Damaged asbestos/Asphalt tiles at home and cleaned them unknowingly

Vicydiy19

Hi All,
I believe that I am exposed to asbestos and now living with it daily. I just got an unfurnished flat in one of the high rise building in the city. Since there were works to be done 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

Hasbeen

Unreadable

Try it in a few sentences with relevant info Paragraphs also make it easier for others to read and reply to you. sorry.

JimmyChanga

I wouldn't sweat over a few tiles. You've been breathing in asbestos for years. Up to the late 1980s it was still in car brake pads.
Always be safe and wary but don't have a heart attack after reading stuff on the internet.

Hasbeen

JimmyChanga wrote: »

I wouldn't sweat over a few tiles. You've been breathing in asbestos for years. Up to the late 1980s it was still in car brake pads.
Always be safe and wary but don't have a heart attack after reading stuff on the internet.

Agree. These tiles were all the rage once. You would have to grind them all up into fine powder/dust and breath it all in to get anywhere near unsafe.:)

Whitterbod

have a read here

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/essentials/floortiles.htm

pollypenny

Years ago I hacked at those tiles on bathroom and kitchen floors.

It was only two years ago that I learned they contained asbestos. No ill effects so far.

Mr.Generous

Hasbeen wrote: »

Unreadable

Try it in a few sentences with relevant info Paragraphs also make it easier for others to read and reply to you. sorry.

I didn't bother reading it either, for anyone wanting to post on here for advice you will do much better if you space things out a little.

The "Enter" button on your keyboard (or equivalent on your smartphone if your under 30) allows you to leave gaps in your text.

For some years printers have been using this as it helps the reader.

Regards, Mr G

HampshireH

Vicydiy19 wrote: »

Hi All,
I believe that I am exposed to asbestos and now living with it daily. I just got an unfurnished flat in one of the high rise building in the city. Since there were works to be done 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

If you were that concerned you wouldn't be sleeping in the room. You could instruct your own survey should you wish or put down an alternative flooring. Even putting a sheet down to cover the broken tiles would be suffice temporarily whilst waiting for carpet.

Floor tiles are not highly friable unlike an asbestos insulation but that is not to say you should be removing them yourself.

if you are that worried, recontact your landlord and request the removal of any broken tiles. If your landlord is suggesting you move out, perhaps they don't feel they want a tenant who they may be perceiving to be a problem.

You will come across asbestos in all walks of life, perhaps the place you work, shop, go out for dinner etc. Unless you live in a bubble of new builds you will be/have been in rooms with it on numeous occasions i expect.

Your cold like symptoms are just a cold or exposure to cleaning chemicals without a face mask. Asbestos fibers don't materialise as symptoms within a few days. On average it takes 20 years but could be anywhere between 10-40 after exposure.


(Also posted in response to the thread you posted on previously as didnt see you had started another)

Fire_Fox

Welcome to MSE.

There have been several threads from people panicking about possible asbestos exposure recently, so it would be well worth running a search ('advanced' allows you to search only this subforum).

In general we should all be using protective items (filter face mask/ rubber gloves/ safety glasses) whenever doing dusty DIY or using strong cleaning products. These are cheap in stores like Poundland and Wilko.

Water on the windows is usually condensation damp. Again there have been multiple threads on this recently, so it is well worth running an advanced search.

Lifestyle modification is important in reducing condensation: not air drying laundry indoors, using lids on pans when cooking, leaving on extractor fans running and/ or throwing windows open for long enough after bathing, taking shorter or less frequent showers.

HTH.