Homebuyers survey back! Help what do we do now?

Niv

SmashedAvacado wrote: »

I am paraphrasing but the surveyor is saying "i am too concerned to go into the loft because of concerns relating to asbestos". So when you move in, will you store your suitcases in the loft, or your children's toys, or perhaps have a model railway up there or convert it, but in the meantime in the ignorance of whether there are fibres there that could seriously damage your health. Its completely reasonable to get to the bottom of this, but i would want an expert to consider whether they were in good condition from the inside, their lifespan (noting that removal would be much more expensive than with a conventional roof), and a clean bill of health as regards airborne particles in the loft. The survey costs a couple of hundred quid and really it ought to be the seller providing it.

Not the sellers responsibility or obligation to provide an asbestos survey.


IF they are asbestos tiles then they are nowhere near on the scale of concern as lagging which you spoke about earlier.


You are right that if they are asbestos tiles and the roof is replaced then it would be more expensive then if they were not asbestos but it would not be as expensive as you elude to (i.e it may have cost £12k to remove the lagging but it would not cost £12k to dispose of the tiled roof).


Storing stuff in a loft space with good condition asbestos slates is of practically no concern to me.


The danger with asbestos is 'loose' fibres, to release loose fibres from concrete is not easy unlike lagging which is basically already loose and brushing past it could release fibres.

SmashedAvacado

the cost of the clear up from the lagging is because the asbestos had deteriorated - which is what will happen to the tiles after 50 years - and as such, they needed to clean the roof space of fibres which involves literally removing every dust particle from the loft and then checking it. That's the reason for the cost. That's the reason why its a concern. Asbestos is a big deal when it deteriorates. A roof of this age may deteriorate about now - as the life of such tiles is about 50 years.

The surveyor has not had a proper look.

Whether you pay or the seller pays for the inspection, i would get one done prior to exchange. Whilst i am relaxed about a lot of things, the liability / health issues this can cause are real, and whilst you might not get a dripping ceiling for some time to come, some deteriorated tiles could cause particles to become ariborne and give rise to very unpleasant consequences.

I know people like to save money - that's the point of this site - but not checking this out properly is properly dumb,

Niv

SmashedAvacado wrote: »

the cost of the clear up from the lagging is because the asbestos had deteriorated - which is what will happen to the tiles after 50 years - and as such, they needed to clean the roof space of fibres which involves literally removing every dust particle from the loft and then checking it. That's the reason for the cost. That's the reason why its a concern. Asbestos is a big deal when it deteriorates. A roof of this age may deteriorate about now - as the life of such tiles is about 50 years.

The surveyor has not had a proper look.

Whether you pay or the seller pays for the inspection, i would get one done prior to exchange. Whilst i am relaxed about a lot of things, the liability / health issues this can cause are real, and whilst you might not get a dripping ceiling for some time to come, some deteriorated tiles could cause particles to become ariborne and give rise to very unpleasant consequences.

I know people like to save money - that's the point of this site - but not checking this out properly is properly dumb,

Lagging is very different to tiles. I totally agree with you regarding the lagging issue you have experienced. It is not the same with cement products, they do not deteriorate in the same way and there are numerous examples of asbestos cement sheet still in use today (go look at any old industrial estate and you are likely to see corrugated asbestos roofs gutters, downpipes etc.


I am not saying that the potential buyer should ignore this risk, I am saying it is not as high a risk as you are making it sound and it IS NOT the same risk as deteriorated lagging. Not even on the same scale it really is not.


Anyway I cannot hit my head against a brick wall with you anymore, i will simply ask what are your credentials in this? I am a qualified asbestos surveyor, bulk analyst, air clearance analyst and hold an asbestos management qualification.

SmashedAvacado

I am saying that someone (either the buyer or seller) spending £200 odd quid on a survey that includes the loft cavity is a no brainer. People saying to ignore it when there is a simple and cheap way of finding out the actual condition is bizarre. I am not saying the risk is the same, but the surveyor has not been in the loft because of their concerns about the risk. That's telling you something.

Davesnave

SmashedAvacado wrote: »

I am saying that someone (either the buyer or seller) spending £200 odd quid on a survey that includes the loft cavity is a no brainer. People saying to ignore it when there is a simple and cheap way of finding out the actual condition is bizarre.

I can't find anyone who said 'ignore it.'

I said the risk would need specialist assessment to be sure if it exists, and that the seller shouldn't be asked to pay for that.

The surveyor will not have commented in any detail on the drains or the electrics either, both of which could also be checked. Where does it stop?

SmashedAvacado

There's no "should" here. I would ask the seller to provide it. They can say no. If they do say no, i would get one done. Its not unreasonable to ask. Market forces and the position of the buyer and seller will dictate who provides it.

Lots of the early posts indicated that this was all normal for a survey on a 50 year old house. I was just saying that a surveyor confirming that they didnt go in the loft because they were concerned that this would endanger them is cause for concern and that getting a survey is what they ought to do. I might take a view on electrics or drains - i might not. But, the survey has raised an issue and not looking into it before committing to spend thousands on a property is not bright.