Should the housing association have removed these tiles?

Helena2006

Then fair enough if they couldn’t have removed them then they should have at least provided guidance and escapulated them before I moved in. It’s not safe To leave asbestos tiles unconvered that are prone to crumbling and expecting a tenant to deal with it. They should have at least informed me. Who would live with those tiles uncovered? No one

teneighty

Its about time we had a bit of perspective on this thread.

Old vinyl floor tiles from the 50's and 60's had asbestos in them. These floor tiles were very popular in council houses as they are so durable so there are literally tens if not hundreds of thousands of houses up and down the country with these floor tiles. Also it is possible to have asbestos in the bituminous adhesive used to stick the tiles down with.

The good news is the asbestos content is low and because the way the tiles and adhesive are constructed the microscopic asbestos fibres are sealed and encapsulated within the tile/adhesive. It is extremely difficult for the asbestos fibres to get loose but it is theoretically possible. So the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres from the floor tiles is incredibly low, even if they are damaged.

Accordingly the landlord is not required to remove the tiles or notify tenants of there presence because the risk is so low.

Helena2006

My situation isn’t unique of course. What I’m saying is, if they dealt with these issues whilst the property is empty it would save all this. I’m not saying they should go round removing them all from all houses whilst tenants and occupying the property but as soon as it comes empty they should make sure these things are safe for the next tenants. It’s not safe to leave decades old tiles uncovered that are presumed to contain asbestos. If they can’t remove them then that’s fine but it doesn’t cost a lot to get something to at least escapulate them. That’s what I did with my ceramic tiles but now that’s obviously causes issues because they didn’t leave them in a safe manner in the first place it was left up to me. I very much doubt you would live with decade old asbestos tiles like that

Fire_Fox

Helena2006 wrote: »

Then fair enough if they couldn’t have removed them then they should have at least provided guidance and escapulated them before I moved in. It’s not safe To leave asbestos tiles unconvered that are prone to crumbling and expecting a tenant to deal with it. They should have at least informed me. Who would live with those tiles uncovered? No one

It is the tenant's responsibility to report any repair or maintenance issues. If the old flooring was cracking you should have reported that. Instead you decided to lay heavy and inflexible tiles, worsening the problem and making it difficult to access.

It is the tenant's responsibility to gain consent of the landlord before undertaking such a project. Given that you did not inform them: it is hardly reasonable to complain that they didn't inform you.

baza52

been in my Hosing association house for 26 years. We still have the old tiles under the laminate downstairs but im not bothered about them in the slightest.
Our ceilings all have asbestos in them (except the parts that have been replaced over the years)
Im not ill or showing any signs of being ill because as as long as they are left alone they are not a problem.
You should be more worried about crossing a road than the tiles as the likelyhood of death or injury will be a lot greater than having old tiles on your floor

Helena2006

Did they inform you of the asbestos in your ceiling and your tiles? Out of interest ?

Dean000000

why would they have. Asbestos was banned in 1999 (20 years ago)


Poster moved in 26 years ago...


though I guess this poster was simply pragmatic about the whole issue and got on with their life.

Helena2006

My point is how did he know these items contained it, he either was told by his HA or he tested himself you can’t just guess. I would be interested to
Know that’s all

Dean000000

equally you don't know there asbestos in your house do you?


google 'presumed'


As in;


"It said ‘sink pad level 2 pressumed’ ( this one doesn’t concern me coz it’s under cupboard on sink
And ‘floor tiles 50m level 2 presumed’"

Helena2006

And this is why I’ve asked the council to test them but I have to wait for a call back with an appointment and I’m hoping they will do that.