Obvious to see asbestos not picked up on survey

Comms69

lunabean wrote: »

I think we paid around £500 for the survey if I remember correctly.

The report has this stock paragraph in:

"Materials containing asbestos are present in many building of this age, often enclosed and
unexposed. The exact nature can only be determined by laboratory testing. There are
potential health risks stemming from inhalation of asbestos fibres and from working with
this material. Further advise is available from the local authority or health and safety
executive- Specialist advise should be obtained before carrying out any
work to any component that contains asbestos. Cost of removal may be high."

It also states in the report that ceilings are of "plasterboard construction"

So the surveyor told you that there's probably asbestos; who's fault is it that upon reading that, you decided to ignore it?

[Deleted User]

playing devils advocate I can see the frustration if the surveyor has said the ceilings are 'plasterboard construction'.

I would probably ask how could they be so sure? Presumably its plastered over in which case how could they be so sure it wasn't asbestos?

Ultimately, the statement about asbestos being hidden will trump any of this so i doubt you have any comeback

Caitykinss

The only way of knowing whether asbestos is present in a building is by appointing a qualified and specialist asbestos surveyor. Homebuyers surveys (or any other building survey) are not designed to identify asbestos, and the surveyor is almost certainly not qualified to do so.
They've issued the standard caveat of potential presence, as it is in lots of homes. You couldn't have expected more than that without hiring a specialist.

I'd also advise getting quotes from several asbestos removal companies as prices (and advice) can vary massively.

lunabean

Yep I think you're all right sadly for me.

I would question the value of these surveys as the bulk of the content is non committal back covering statements about this and that issue may or may not be there. Especially for an older house. Best to cut out the middle man and just get a timber /asbestos / drains etc survey done at the off so you're getting information from someone who can give definitive advice and saving the cost of the general survey.

lunabean

Have to say I do still feel a little let down. It was there to be seen and it's not unreasonable to expect a professional doing this day in day out to have spotted it

[Deleted User]

lunabean wrote: »

Have to say I do still feel a little let down. It was there to be seen and it's not unreasonable to expect a professional doing this day in day out to have spotted it

Unfortunately the surveys are mainly designed to protect the surveyor and are just full of caveats and ifs/buts/and maybe's.

Im not a huge fan of them but ive seen a few of them point out some serious defects on properties that mortgage survey didnt see (including a case of heave that the mortgage survey didnt spot on driveby and the vendors were not aware of). I generally tell my clients if they get one to expect more questions than answers with the odd chance it will find something significant.

You may have had too high an expectation of what the survey was going to cover