Asbestos discovered after survey

Deesta

Hi all

We bought a house last summer and have been doing it up over the last few months
.
We've now got to the roofline and are having the fascia boards/soffits etc all replaced.

Had a call from the contractor on Monday to say that they think they've found asbestos.

Have had an asbestos survey done and should have the results today but the tester thinks it is AIB.

In the survey report we had done before the purchase the surveyor wrote:
"I am, however, fairly sure that, pleasingly, there appears to be no asbestos content in the external soffit boards serving this dwelling."

That is exactly where the suspected asbestos is.

He made no mention of recommending an asbestos survey or we would have had one done.

Anyone have any thoughts on whether or not we can do something with regard to the contents of the survey?

If it is AIB we're looking at around £8k to get it removed :mad:

Thanks
Steve

Aylesbury_Duck

What does the survey paperwork/contract say about their liability? I suspect the "there appears to be no asbestos content" phrasing is enough to cover them. What's the context? Is there another sentence saying something along the lines of "the survey isn't intrusive and therefore in the event of any doubt, specialist testing should be done."?

What sort of survey did you have? Without the surveyor actually testing the material his opinion is just that - an opinion.

teneighty

Deesta wrote: »

In the survey report we had done before the purchase the surveyor wrote:
"I am, however, fairly sure that, pleasingly, there appears to be no asbestos content in the external soffit boards serving this dwelling."

That is incredibly stupid and clumsy wording. I dare say there is a standard disclaimer clause hidden away in the survey about asbestos but what they have written is very misleading.

I would try a punt at going down the official complaint route to see if you could get some money back if only to teach the surveyor/valuer a lesson.

By the way I would query whether it is actually AIB, that would be very unusual for external soffits. Either way £8k sounds steep for removing external soffits.

SG27

We had asbestos in our soffits. No idea what type as the window firm pulled it all down and replaced it. They weren't bothered when I pointed out our survey said there could be asbestos up there.

societys_child

a call from the contractor on Monday to say that they think they've found asbestos

They think? It needs testing.

Vicydiy19

Hi All, I find it is best to be informed and so you can decide or make the right decision on time. Mine case is:
I believe that I am exposed to asbestos. I just got an unfurnished flat in one of the high rise building in the city. Since there were works to clear previous tenant's stuff some of the flooring tiles were somehow damaged. When I got it I asked for information about the material inside and was told that they will provide them but they didn't. So I took it and did all the cleaning you can imagine to make it a home and dealt with dust whilst sweeping the floor tiles without knowing. Later obe of the contractor refused to carry out a repair saying that an inspection is first needed since asbestos is present (the building is older... in 50's). So I was called to schedule this inspection but my landlord cancelled it angrily that there is no need since they have already done the tests before me getting the flat. Also she stresses that if there were asbestos in the flat it was not going to be rented out again she said that they are everywhere nothing you can do about it but I insisted that if there is no need, I still want to see the report which she was against and sort of refusing it. Now my question is what can I do since the floor is not yet covered, after the cleaning I just moved in now is 4weeks while waiting for the carpet to be delivered and fitted. Please advise as I am very worried that the dust accumulated from the floor tiles damaged and undisturbed tiles and paiting the walls which might contain asbestos also might have been entered my lungs while breathing doing cleaning also I did all by myself while I thought it to be a small job for a studio flat but I was long now. Please advise on what I can do present and future consequences. Also what are might rights vs. landlord's? I am not entitled to know what material is in the property and is the wording only enough? Basically, I am living, sleeping and breathing in those floor tiles not yet got the flooring. Since, I can't sleep all night thinking about it and wondering what I can do about it now that I am in and the flooring is not yet covered since waiting for the carpet to be delivered and fitted in.
From the landlord, he was telling me when I asked for a report or survey that I should instead consider moving out but I feel the damage is already done! Now asking if I should stay in or move out again there is some works to be done and there is already dampness and water on windows no matter how I try to get air in and for ventilation.
Please help, your comments/advice/recommendation will be very much appreciated.
Vicy

neilmcl

Vicydiy19 wrote: »

Hi All, I find it is best to be informed and so you can decide or make the right decision on time. Mine case is:
I believe that I am exposed to asbestos. I just got an unfurnished flat in one of the high rise building in the city. Since there were works to clear previous tenant's stuff some of the flooring tiles were somehow damaged. When I got it I asked for information about the material inside and was told that they will provide them but they didn't. So I took it and did all the cleaning you can imagine to make it a home and dealt with dust whilst sweeping the floor tiles without knowing. Later obe of the contractor refused to carry out a repair saying that an inspection is first needed since asbestos is present (the building is older... in 50's). So I was called to schedule this inspection but my landlord cancelled it angrily that there is no need since they have already done the tests before me getting the flat. Also she stresses that if there were asbestos in the flat it was not going to be rented out again she said that they are everywhere nothing you can do about it but I insisted that if there is no need, I still want to see the report which she was against and sort of refusing it. Now my question is what can I do since the floor is not yet covered, after the cleaning I just moved in now is 4weeks while waiting for the carpet to be delivered and fitted. Please advise as I am very worried that the dust accumulated from the floor tiles damaged and undisturbed tiles and paiting the walls which might contain asbestos also might have been entered my lungs while breathing doing cleaning also I did all by myself while I thought it to be a small job for a studio flat but I was long now. Please advise on what I can do present and future consequences. Also what are might rights vs. landlord's? I am not entitled to know what material is in the property and is the wording only enough? Basically, I am living, sleeping and breathing in those floor tiles not yet got the flooring. Since, I can't sleep all night thinking about it and wondering what I can do about it now that I am in and the flooring is not yet covered since waiting for the carpet to be delivered and fitted in.
From the landlord, he was telling me when I asked for a report or survey that I should instead consider moving out but I feel the damage is already done! Now asking if I should stay in or move out again there is some works to be done and there is already dampness and water on windows no matter how I try to get air in and for ventilation.
Please help, your comments/advice/recommendation will be very much appreciated.
Vicy

Please start your own thread.

JimmyChanga

8k to remove it? That's ridiculous. Unfortunately the body covering Asbestos removal companies tries their best to scare the bejesus out of everyone to make them cough up these amounts. No pun intended.

unforeseen

Did the person who did your survey actually get a ladder and get up close and personal with the soffit?

From your wording it sounds like your tradesman only discovered the possibility after starting the work when he was in very close proximity so from the ground there didn't appear to be any asbestos especially as your tradesperson made no mention when he costed the job either.

JimmyChanga

Having read this again, is this asbestos removal quote coming via the original contractor to do the soffits? Have they already erected the scaffolding?

If so, I've seen this scenario being played out before. Erect scaffolding so customer is already liable for cost, then mention asbestos and get customer worked up. They then willingly pay up exorbitant cost.

Any contractor who deals in fascia and soffit work would mention this from the quote stage. I'm not even an installer but even I can tell from the age of homes where asbestos is likely to be.

PhilE

SG27 wrote: »

We had asbestos in our soffits. No idea what type as the window firm pulled it all down and replaced it. They weren't bothered when I pointed out our survey said there could be asbestos up there.

If you ever get a tradesman who is not bothered by the potential presence of asbestos, you tell them to stop work and show them the door.

Put the health of you and your family first.