Asbestos Removal and Material Replacement Costs

Dave2018

I'm finalising the purchase of a flat and have had reports back saying that the boiler is defective and that it will cost £365 + VAT to put right.

The seller has also said he will give £300 towards a new front door as the current one doesn't comply with fire regulations.

As to asbestos, the asbestos survey reported asbestos in the airing cupboard and in the garage, saying it will cost £900 + VAT to remove from the airing cupboard and £500 + VAT to remove from the garage, but replacing the materials (roof and insulation boards) will cost extra. The chap who did the survey said to me in a phone conversation that it would be worth me asking for these costs for the asbestos to be knocked off the price of the flat, and I'm seriously considering asking for the price of putting the boiler right to be knocked off too.

I've been trying to get quotes from contractors regarding the asbestos. The only one who's replied so far said that it would in fact cost £2450 + VAT to remove the asbestos from the airing cupboard (bit of a difference, but reading the report the company said the chap who carried out the survey obviously wasn't au fait with the process) but still said £500 + VAT to remove from the garage, plus estimated £1100 to replace the materials (that company doesn't replace the materials). Another builder I spoke to said £2450 seemed a bit much to remove from the airing cupboard. I'm confused.

As time is running short I want to fire off an e-mail to the solicitor tonight saying I'd like a certain amount knocked off the price of the flat - but I'd just like advice on a reasonable price to say about removing the asbestos from the airing cupboard. Any thoughts?

Slithery

Was the asbestos visible when you first viewed the property? It could already have been priced taking the asbestos into account.

Dave2018

Yes, it was there - not that I knew what it was. Would you say that it's inappropriate to have the cost of asbestos removal plus material replacement taken off the price of the flat?

davidmcn

Is there any particular reason why you need it removed? It won't do any harm staying where it is.

Dave2018

The chap who did the asbestos survey said in a phone conversation to get the seller to knock the price of the removal and replacement off the price of the flat otherwise a future buyer would do that to me.

Jumblebumble

Dave2018 wrote: »

The chap who did the asbestos survey said in a phone conversation to get the seller to knock the price of the removal and replacement off the price of the flat otherwise a future buyer would do that to me.

This is pretty meaningless as a future buyer has no way of insisting that they can knock any money off an negotiable price which has been concocted by an estate agent.
Your vendor may knock money off or may tell you to take a hike in which case you are free to buy or not.

Robin9

Why do you want to remove it from the garage ? It's not doing any harm and is serving a useful purpose.

An odd location for it to be in an airing cupboard. What form does it take - a sheet in the ceiling, on the walls ?

Tomg84

Dave2018 wrote: »

The chap who did the asbestos survey said in a phone conversation to get the seller to knock the price of the removal and replacement off the price of the flat otherwise a future buyer would do that to me.

I'd get with a pinch of salt about future buyer behaviour (sounds like a sales tactic). Many many houses contain asbestos. It was only banned as a construction material in 2000. If the asbestos is in good condition and isn't going to be disturbed/damaged then its safer to leave it. This is advise from Health and Safety Executive. I would only get it removed from the areas which are needed for your boiler replacement. Could be worth a go to ask for a price reduction - they might say yes - they might say no

breaking_free

That's a ton of money to spend on a job that doesn't require doing.

If you're concerned about a future sale you can always purchase asbestos sealing paint and give both the airing cupboard and garage a thorough going over. It'll freshen them up and make them look less obviously like asbestos - nobody's likely to bat an eyelid at them after that.

Niv

Robin9 wrote: »

Why do you want to remove it from the garage ? It's not doing any harm and is serving a useful purpose.

An odd location for it to be in an airing cupboard. What form does it take - a sheet in the ceiling, on the walls ?

Just to clarify for others reading. It is NOT odd to find asbestos in an airing cupboard. In fact it was quite common 'back in the day' and was often in an 'asbestos paper' form which until disturbed would not be obvious it was asbestos as could be mistaken for wallpaper as often it was papered over and/or painted.


It was also common to find flue pipes in airing cupboards and ceiling sheeting.

UltraRevenge

Hi Dave2018,

Interesting reading your post because I am pretty much in the exact same situation as you.

I've just had report back from person that did the survey (for some reason I keep getting the feeling he's lying, is there anyway to verify?). Thankfully it wasn't the artex ceilings in the entire house, was just a concrete wall/panel in boiler cupboard, and roof insulation on both sides under the roof.

Spoke to my solicitors, they said once i know the cost of removal - We can ask that they pay for this. And no, I wasn't aware of asbestos in the property, buyer even informed me there wasn't any when I asked.

Sellers will speak to their solicitor and see how to move forward. Removal might come to approve £1k - 2k and rebuild another 2-3k.