Asbestos I’m I being unreasonable?

[Deleted User]

Chandler85 said:

23k to remove asbestos.  I think you need to get more quotes for the actual work not just from a surveyor, from a company who would actually do it then go from there.

Then the further question has to be which bit needs immediate removal, which I would argue you can say you want the money off if it's dangerous, but none damaged board that doesn't need removing is different (though I understand why you want it gone).

The 23k is from a certified asbestos  removal company, we have gone to 2 asbestos companies for quotes.  Apparently Amosite is not standard asbestos so there are very few companies that remove it. As we found out the majority of asbestos removal companies don’t have the license to remove Amosite.  The 23k is just to remove where it is damaged.  Currently the rooms with no damaged haven’t been tested. 

Thrugelmir

Buying a property is a business negotiation. Come to a compromise with the vendors or walk away. That's the bottom line. No point in getting emotional over events. Be another property to buy along shortly. 

[Deleted User]

Niv said:

Price reduction aside, based on your description, this is not a house that needs cosmetic updating, it needs a refurb. I would not be moving into this house until the AIB is removed, all carpets removed and disposed of and the whole place deep cleaned. 

I am not one to overreact when I hear the word asbestos but brown asbestos is not nice stuff and if the boards are as badly damaged as you and the surveyor say and if the existing owners are using those rooms, there is a real possibility that fibres will be in every room.

The £23k doesn't phase me at all, I worked in the industry for a number of years and know full well how quickly the costs can escalate. Does that cost take into account the potential contamination of the whole house? Replacement of carpets etc?

Personally, I wouldn't go for this house unless it was the plan to not move in right away but to refurb first.

Thanks Niv,  I said to the estate agent yesterday this is now a refurbishment project (with all the other issues we didn’t know about on top of this issue), but were not paying for it as a refub. 

As I’m finding out the brown asbestos is nasty stuff, and the more I read the more I wouldn’t move in until its sorted. 

Niv

Fragglekid38 said:

Chandler85 said:

23k to remove asbestos.  I think you need to get more quotes for the actual work not just from a surveyor, from a company who would actually do it then go from there.

Then the further question has to be which bit needs immediate removal, which I would argue you can say you want the money off if it's dangerous, but none damaged board that doesn't need removing is different (though I understand why you want it gone).

The 23k is from a certified asbestos  removal company, we have gone to 2 asbestos companies for quotes.  Apparently Amosite is not standard asbestos so there are very few companies that remove it. As we found out the majority of asbestos removal companies don’t have the license to remove Amosite.  The 23k is just to remove where it is damaged.  Currently the rooms with no damaged haven’t been tested. 

I don't know who is using the term 'standard asbestos' to you but amosite is absolutely standard. What they probably mean is its not white (chrysotile) and so requires a license to remove.

Regarding bolded bit - So do these rooms also have AIB board in them but in better condition or do you not know? If you decide to go ahead with this purchase I would be getting an asbestos survey undertaken before you commit so you know the full extent of the issue as it sounds like at this stage only samples of the damaged board have been sampled for analysis (if the sellers will allow this, which may be unlikely). 

Wyndham

Asbestos was widely used in houses in the sixties and seventies. More homes have it than people realise.

With ours, we had some removed, and the rest had boards put around it. I understand that it's then safe so long as you don't disturb it.

So, does it all need removing, or could you board some of it up?

Section62

Wyndham said:

So, does it all need removing, or could you board some of it up?

Intentionally leaving confirmed amosite/AIB in-situ and covered over inside a domestic property could be considered borderline psychopathic. Leaving a 'gift' like that for someone in the future isn't nice, let alone the potential risks to the occupants in the meantime.

It needs clearing up properly - and there's simply no sense in doing half a job.

sammyjammy

I would walk away if they aren't willing to negotiate, they can say sold as seen all they like but that doesn't mean you have to buy.  It sounds like  more trouble than its worth if you weren't planning on a do'er upper

Wyndham

Section62 said:

Wyndham said:

So, does it all need removing, or could you board some of it up?

Intentionally leaving confirmed amosite/AIB in-situ and covered over inside a domestic property could be considered borderline psychopathic. Leaving a 'gift' like that for someone in the future isn't nice, let alone the potential risks to the occupants in the meantime.

It needs clearing up properly - and there's simply no sense in doing half a job.

Well, we took professional advice with ours. But, I will say, the bits we have left are outside, not in - maybe that's the difference?

steve866

How long was the property on the market? Was there other offers? How do you know you are paying over the odds?

HampshireH

Honestly, £23k could actually be quite reasonable if it's as large and big a job as you say (And not just a garage)

They would have to set up enclosures, have constant air monitoring - good practice is to use a seperate company for this 

As above amosite is not an unusual absestos.

AIB board isn't anusual product in houses that haven't been upgraded or are older.

However it sounds like half a job here.

Your asbestos survey should have been a survey of the whole house before you got quotes.

It's not as common for houses to have AIB boards on ALL ceilings. But...

Garages - it's common

Panels on doors - it's common

Panes under stairs not uncommon
Airing cupboards and boiler/meter cupboards it's common
Behind boilers it's common

Porch canopy roofs it's common

External of houses it's common

Ceilings possibly not too surprising depending on the room.

You get my drift.... It's definitely not unheard of

Recent job I have just had done through work cost Around £6k plus vat to remove the smallest bit of AIB from aloft space because it was hard to Access required a huge enclosure, notification of works, ceilings down, welfare facilities seperately for health and safety, air monitoring and reoccupation cert, disposal costs.

Just as an example of where the costs rack up

Normal process for a certified company in licenced removals.

Go in with your eyes wide open and if your concerned then get a full management survey of the whole property before you make a decision. Then have a chat with a licenced removal company.