Asbestos

Asbestos is a strong fibrous material that can resist heat and chemicals. It was most commonly used in building materials between the 1950s and 1980s (and was also commonly used in household items such as ironing boards and oven gloves). It was useful in a number of areas because it was:

  • Resistant to chemicals

  • A good fireproofing material

  • A good insulation material

  • A good binding material

Following the discovery of health issues amongst persons who had worked with asbestos, it was finally banned from further use in the UK in 1999. However, this means many homes built before this time have asbestos-containing materials within their construction. Although the risks are very small, we have put in place extra measures to manage any materials containing asbestos in all the properties we manage.

  • Asbestos is not a problem if it is not damaged and left alone intact. Asbestos can be dangerous if it is damaged or disturbed by drilling, sawing, sanding or scrubbing, as asbestos fibres are released into the air. Products containing asbestos can look the same as those that do not, so you should always be careful. If you breathe in asbestos, this can lead to serious lung diseases. You may sometimes briefly breathe in levels of asbestos when you are doing activities such as DIY. If you think a material might contain asbestos, don’t work on it and contact us for advice.

    The vast majority of asbestos-containing materials within our properties are restricted to vinyl floor tiles and textured coatings, such as Artex. Some of these materials, if manufactured and installed before 1999, may contain very minute amounts of asbestos as a binder to the main material content. These materials are low-risk and are classed as non-regulated or non-licensed. If the asbestos-containing material is in good condition it is not dangerous to your health. However, if asbestos is damaged, we will deal with it safely and appropriately. We follow all the rules and regulations on asbestos very strictly, and your health and safety is the most important thing to us.

  • Although we do not have a regulatory duty to manage asbestos within your home, we do have a duty of care and we have a long-term commitment to manage materials containing asbestos in our properties. We are doing this by:

    • Carrying out surveys to find and identify material in shared areas and individual homes when needed, such as prior to improvement works, like replacing kitchen and bathroom.

    • Keeping a detailed asbestos database.

    • Assessing the risk from materials containing asbestos in all of our properties (where we know about this).

    • Making arrangements to manage the risk arising from materials containing asbestos.

    • Providing information, when requested, about the condition and location of materials containing asbestos to anyone who could be exposed to it.

    • Making sure that the appropriate information is given, and action taken, by anyone who is likely to disturb materials containing asbestos, including staff, contractors and consultants.

    • Reducing the chance (as far as possible), of residents, their visitors, and contractors working on our properties being exposed to asbestos.

  • Do contact us straight away if:

    • Any materials you think may contain asbestos have been damaged or disturbed.

    • Protective coatings or sealants are peeling or breaking off, or if special labels have been removed.

    • Asbestos cement-based products such as guttering or roof components become damaged, badly weathered or waste away.

    Also, do make sure that:

    • Anything you think may contain asbestos stays in good condition and before you carry out any DIY work you get our advice. You may also need our permission under the conditions of your tenancy. Remember, materials that contain asbestos which is in good condition and not disturbed are not a risk to your health.

    Make sure you don’t:

    • Work on, damage or remove materials containing asbestos.

    • Sand down, drill or scrape off Artex when it is dry.

    • Drill, cut or sand materials you think may contain asbestos.

    • Break off pieces or break up large pieces of materials that could contain asbestos.

    • Jet wash or clean asbestos cement products.

    • Remove old floor tiles or lino – instead, leave them in place and lay new floor coverings over them.

    • Remove textured coatings from ceilings – wash any areas where the paint is flaking before you paint it again.