Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in rock. It was used in building products in the UK particularly during the 1960s and 1970s because it is very strong and resistant to heat and chemicals.

The use of asbestos materials was stopped in 1999 but any building built before 2000 may contain asbestos.

If you have asbestos in your home, you do not need to be worried. If it is in good condition, it is not usually a problem.

Asbestos only becomes dangerous when it is damaged or disturbed. This is because it releases invisible fibres into the air. If we breathe in these fibres, they can get stuck in the tissues of the chest or lungs. This can cause diseases including Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.

Ask before you DIY!

You must contact us first if you’re planning home improvements. We can check our records and see if your home is likely to contain asbestos and where it is located.

If you or anyone else carries out work on your home without our permission, you may have to pay for the asbestos to be made safe and then removed at a later date by a licensed contractor. Remember, this is an important part of your tenancy agreement and if you don’t let us know about your DIY plans you will be in breach of your tenancy agreement.

How we deal with asbestos in your home?

If asbestos is not damaged, it’s safest to leave it in place.

Where asbestos is a hazard, we make it safe by enclosing it or removing it. We also carry out surveys on our properties to find out if they contain asbestos and what condition it is in.

We’ll let you know when our trained asbestos surveyors are going to be carrying out these surveys at your home, and it’s really important that you allow us access.

Report asbestos

If you suspect you may have disturbed asbestos or have found a suspected asbestos product and are worried that dust may be released, please leave the room where the suspect material was found, close the door to that room and contact us on 0800 218 2000. We will discuss and assess the situation with you and agree the best course of action.

Do I have asbestos in my home?

The diagram below shows the places that asbestos may have been used in a typical property, both inside and outside.

However, not all properties will have asbestos in all these locations, and your home may not have any asbestos at all.