Do we declare asbestos in garage roof

longwalks1

Thank you everyone, we hadn't given it a second thought (and I probably wouldn't if I was buying a house and it had a asbestos, or suspected asbestos garage roof).  
One executor of the 3 is absolutely hellbent on delaying any sale and so far has tried almost everything to hold things up.  Was just asking as we are guessing it may be their next petty move.

Thank you all again, IF the question comes up, the potential buyer will get a 'Sorry, no idea' from us 

horsewithnoname

Good luck with it. It’s stressful enough without having someone playing silly beggars with it 🤞

Hoenir

longwalks1 said:

 Was just asking as we are guessing it may be their next petty move.

Thank you all again, IF the question comes up, the potential buyer will get a 'Sorry, no idea' from us 

The buyers surveyor will flag issues up in their report. Buyers can then decide for themselves what level of due diligence they wish to perform. As far as specific property knowledge goes. Executors cannot answer questions that they don't have answers to. Your solicitor will most likely to suggest you respond with bland statements as not known or not to our knowledge. 

Pointless second guessing. Property transactions are stressfull enough without self inflicted worries. 

Noneforit999

Do you know it contains asbestos? Have you had it tested?

If the answer is no then your answer is Don't know on the form because you don't. You suspect it might but that is not knowing so you don't know.

Our garage roof probably contains asbestos but why am I worried? Its not falling apart and I have no plans to drill into it. Its a garage used for storage, I probably spend 10 minutes in there getting some tools every now and then. Until the roof starts to fall apart, I have no desire to spend a few grand fixing something that isn't broken.

Every ceiling in the house was artex from the 70s, likely containing asbestos. Plasterer went right over it.

Floor tiles were 60s marley ones, again likely containing asbestos but they were stuck down well so SLC went right over them.

If we ever sold the house, the answer to the asbestos question would be 'I Don't know' as I don't. None of it may contain asbestos for all I know, I am just guessing based on age but ultimately all of it might.

Buyers should have surveys and surveyors are paid to know whether something may contain asbestos based on the age of the property. 

user1977

Noneforit999 said:

surveyors are paid to know whether something may contain asbestos based on the age of the property. 

Normal surveyors are paid to give vague warnings that everything might have asbestos and to recommend you get specialist tests...

martindow

ss2020jd said:

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. 

Are these the precise words used by the surveyor?  Normally they say that there may be asbestos and suggest getting a specialist in.  Unless there have been tests I can't see how they can be so certain.  As has been said, they can't tell if there is asbestos or not merely by looking.

EssexHebridean

user1977 said:

Noneforit999 said:

surveyors are paid to know whether something may contain asbestos based on the age of the property. 

Normal surveyors are paid to give vague warnings that everything might have asbestos and to recommend you get specialist tests...

And normal buyers buying a property of an age where asbestos might have been used think "yup!" and move right on with the process.  

Section62

martindow said:

ss2020jd said:

Are these the precise words used by the surveyor?  Normally they say that there may be asbestos and suggest getting a specialist in.  Unless there have been tests I can't see how they can be so certain.  As has been said, they can't tell if there is asbestos or not merely by looking.

If it is clearly pre-1980'ish then the probability of cement-board products not containing asbestos is so low that it is a reasonable assumption that the material does contain asbestos.

This would also be a 'safe' assumption - i.e. assuming a worse case than it may be.

There is also the possibility the product is marked in some way that confirms asbestos is present.

ss2020jd

martindow said:

ss2020jd said:

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. 

Are these the precise words used by the surveyor?  Normally they say that there may be asbestos and suggest getting a specialist in.  Unless there have been tests I can't see how they can be so certain.  As has been said, they can't tell if there is asbestos or not merely by looking.

Yes, those are the precise words. I copied and pasted them from his report. That’s interesting to hear. No tests were performed by the surveyor. 

theartfullodger

Of course you declare it : it's the decent thing to do.