PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Do we declare asbestos in garage roof

Options
24

Comments

  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,424 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If it’s a probate sale it will be accepted by the buyer’s solicitor that you will likely be answering “We don’t know” to a lot of enquiries. If you don’t know the answer to something then you should answer “we don’t know” not try to guess the answer. The buyer’s survey will almost certainly point out the possibility of asbestos if it is likely to be there. (And possibly even if it’s not!) 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • I have 1930’s house and suspect our garage roof is asbestos (cement panels), I haven’t got it tested and it didn’t worry me when buying. 

    I think people get overly worried about asbestos and a garage roof which is just left as is for storage is no real concern.  I would just answer unknown or unknown but garage roof could be due to age and construction. 
  • TheJP
    TheJP Posts: 1,951 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Of course you do.  Do the decent thing!  
    .
    How'd you feel is someone misled you over such a matter?  Genuine question, looking forward to your response.
    .
    Best wishes to all 
    Mislead on something you don't know for sure is there unless an expert clarifies? Id do my due diligence as a buyer, OP you sleep well its not your issue.
  • A young couple bought the house across the road from an 80 years plus lady who had gone into a care home.  Her son and daughter left the estate agent to sell the house, neither of them had lived at home for over twenty years. 

    The young couple were very upset to find out post survey that the garage roof, and the conservatory roof, are the 'bad' sort of asbestos.  I don't know why their surveyor missed it.   They've just had their first baby, I do feel for them. 
    £216 saved 24 October 2014
  • Bigphil1474
    Bigphil1474 Posts: 3,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    They've been very unlucky then, as pretty much all asbestos containing cement panel garage roofs were chrysotile (white) asbestos, which is the least dangerous.  Why they'd have a cement conservatory roof is another question. 

    OP, not sure where you would 'declare' anything, but as others have said, if asked say it probably is asbestos containing cement panels. You can't actually tell the difference between asbestos containing and non-asbestos containing cement panels just by looking at them. It's not that expensive to remove old garage roofs as you don't have to be a licensed asbestos company to dismantle them. You do have to pay to dispose of though. All in £2k at most I'd suspect. If it's a £400k house, that £2k is neither here nor there.
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 9,740 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    They've been very unlucky then, as pretty much all asbestos containing cement panel garage roofs were chrysotile (white) asbestos, which is the least dangerous. 
    Unfortunately that's one of the many 'absestos myths'.  Chrysotile is the more common fibre type found in ACB products, but that isn't the same as anything close to all AC products only containing Chrysotile.

    Even where a material was nominally manufactured using Chrysotile fibres it is possible other fibre types are also present as contaimnation.

    Hence youth_leader's near neighbours having the misfortune of buying this problem.
  • ss2020jd
    ss2020jd Posts: 652 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 22 January 2024 at 10:35AM
    As others has said, if you are asked you should say but generally it is the surveyor that will pick up and advise on this. We had some identified in an old shed and an open cart shed structure. The surveyor added this to the section: 

    “It should be noted that there is asbestos present in many of the claddings to the walls and roofs to the shed and cart shed. The presence of asbestos in this material should not be regarded as a particular hazard whilst the material remains in sound condition, but it should be ensured that it is not worked or disturbed in any fashion and could result in the release of asbestos fibres which would be potentially hazardous to health.”

    We have not yet looked at getting it professionally disposed and replaced but do not use or spend time in the shed. 

    I was very worried when a large branch came through a corner of the outdoor cart shed and a small piece of roof broke off onto the ground after a storm. I took advice and wore a full asbestos suit and mask and sprayed the cut piece of the roof with water from a distance even though it is supposed to be the corrugated “less dangerous” type! I don’t want to take any chances. I still worry if that was the right thing to do. 
  • pinkshoes
    pinkshoes Posts: 20,535 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    We’ve just listed late mother in laws house for sale and we are almost certain the old garage roof (house is 1930’s or early 40’s build) is, or contains asbestos.

    do we need to declare it?  Or only if asked by a buyer?  We don’t know for certain but one of the executors has asked the question to the other 2.

    just wanted to know how it’s normally dealt with.
    thank you everyone in advance 
    What do you mean by "almost certain"?

    If you have paperwork saying it contains asbestos, then yes it would be wise to say so.

    Asbestos is not an issue unless disturbed.

    Most houses of that era will have some asbestos somewhere so the buyer's survey will pick it up anyway. Or will at least comment that there might be asbestos and recommend them to get a further survey done. The usual butt covering lines...
    Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
    Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')

    No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 9,740 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    pinkshoes said:

    Asbestos is not an issue unless disturbed.

    In terms of health, in general that is correct.

    But it can cause significant financial issues whether disturbed or not.
  • horsewithnoname
    horsewithnoname Posts: 776 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 22 January 2024 at 6:48PM
    My 1930s house had an asbestos roof on the garage. When I had the house extended the builders removed and disposed of it (properly) I never considered it an issue, other than telling any workers so they’d not walk on it and possibly fall through it. 
    When I bought the house, the survey mentioned it, but that was all. 
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.