Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been a popular building material since the 1950s. It is used as an insulator (to keep in heat and keep out cold), has good fire protection properties and protects against corrosion.
Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you have asbestos in your home. It is likely that some parts of a building will contain asbestos if it was built before 2000.
The 3 types of asbestos which have been used in the UK are:
- crocidolite (blue asbestos)
- amosite (brown asbestos)
- chrysotile (white asbestos)
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) and Amosite (brown asbestos) are thought to be the most dangerous.
When asbestos is a problem
When asbestos materials age or become damaged they can release fibres into the air. The shape and size of the fibres means they are able to penetrate deep into the lungs, where they may stay for a long time, causing possible lung damage.
When very high levels of these fibres are breathed in there is a risk of lung diseases.
Exposure to asbestos
There are very low levels of fibres in the air everywhere because asbestos has been used widely and is a naturally occurring substance. Everyone is breathing these in all the time, but exposure to this low level of fibres is unlikely to harm people's health.
Asbestos materials in good condition are unlikely to release harmful fibres. However, damaged or disturbed materials may pose a health risk and should be assessed. If you have damaged asbestos materials in your home you should seek advice on suitable action to take.
High, short-term contact with asbestos fibres can occur during DIY work. For this reason, avoid disturbing materials which might contain asbestos.
Asbestos in council homes
A number of council homes contain asbestos. We are committed to making sure that all materials containing asbestos in your home are safe. If you find materials containing asbestos or they are discovered during minor works, we will inspect them and if necessary, the material will be removed. We will keep you informed about the process at all times.
Our responsibility as a landlord
Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, we have a legal duty to manage asbestos in communal areas and non-domestic parts of council housing. This includes identifying, assessing, and controlling asbestos risks to ensure your safety. We maintain records of asbestos-containing materials and take appropriate action when risks are identified.
Common locations of asbestos in council homes
Inside the house
- asbestos insulating board (AIB) around boiler
- toilet cistern
- vinyl floor tiles backed with asbestos paper and bitumen adhesive
- AIB or asbestos cement bath panels
- AIB ceiling tiles
- AIB airing cupboard and/or sprayed insulation coating boiler
- pipe lagging
- AIB partition wall
- asbestos cement water tank
- AIB behind fuse box
- textured decorative coating, for example Artex
- loose fill insulation
- AIB behind fire
- AIB or asbestos cement interior window panel
On the outside of the house
- AIB or asbestos cement soffits and fascias
- roofing felt
- asbestos cement roof tiles/slates
- asbestos cement panels
- profiled asbestos cement sheeting
- AIB or asbestos cement exterior window panel
- gutters and asbestos cement downpipes
Minimise the risk of exposure to asbestos in your home
Materials containing asbestos which are in good condition and left undisturbed are safe and do not pose a risk to your health. However, disturbing these materials, even unintentionally, can release harmful fibres.
To stay safe:
- always contact us for permission before starting any DIY work, even small jobs like drilling, sanding, or decorating - we can check if asbestos is present and advise on safe steps
- do not carry out any intrusive work such as drilling into walls or ceilings, removing panels, lifting floor tiles without our written approval
- keep materials in good condition, avoid knocking, scraping, or damaging surfaces that may contain asbestos
- soak wallpaper thoroughly before removing, if possible use a steam stripper and gently peel it away
- do not remove textured coatings such as Artex, wash flaking paint gently before repainting
- do not remove old floor tiles or linoleum - leave them in place and lay new flooring over the top
- report any damage to suspected asbestos materials immediately to the Housing Repairs team
Even short-term exposure to disturbed asbestos fibres can be harmful. If in doubt, ask us first
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