Asbestos in your home

Catalyst Communities Housing Association

Asbestos fibres are strong, and resist heat and chemicals. That’s why they were used in a wide range of building materials, often as fireproofing. Properties built since the mid-1980s are unlikely to contain asbestos in the fabric of the building. Properties built after 1990 are very unlikely to contain asbestos anywhere in the building. But asbestos cement has been widely used for cladding – you can still find it in garages and sheds.

Why might asbestos be a problem?

When asbestos materials age or get damaged, they can release fibres into the air. If you breathe these in, they may stay in your lungs for a long time and cause damage. If you breathe in very high levels of these fibres, you may get lung diseases, including cancer.

Is everyone exposed to asbestos?

There is a very low level of fibres in the air everywhere because asbestos has been used widely. Breathing in this low level of fibres is unlikely to harm you. The level of fibres may be higher in buildings that contain asbestos materials, especially if the materials are damaged.

It is very unlikely that the level of asbestos fibres in buildings will harm you. But if you find damaged asbestos materials in your home, contact your local office immediately to find out what to do.

Where is asbestos found?

Building materials containing asbestos were widely used from 1930 to around 1980, particularly from the 1960s onwards. So houses and flats built or refurbished then may contain asbestos materials. The use of asbestos in these products decreased greatly around the mid-1980s, and since 1993 the use of asbestos in most products has been banned.

How can I identify products or materials containing asbestos?

Since 1976, British manufacturers have put labels on their products to show they contain asbestos. Since 1986, all products containing asbestos carry a European Commission label.

The company that makes or supplies a product may be able to tell you whether it contains asbestos. Often homes built at the same time contain similar materials – so ask your neighbours if their homes have had surveys for asbestos. The environmental health department at your local council may be able to find out if you have asbestos products in your home, or if homes in your area have been surveyed.

What should I do if I suspect there is asbestos in my home?

It’s often better to leave asbestos materials that are in good condition and can’t easily be damaged, because removing them can lead to higher levels of fibres in the air for some time. If you have asbestos in your home, always tell builders, maintenance workers or contractors before they start work.

Asbestos materials that are slightly damaged can sometimes be repaired by sealing or enclosing them. Contact your local office immediately – they will deal with this in the most suitable way.

Asbestos materials that are badly damaged or decaying can release dust and should be removed. Contact your local office immediately. Some asbestos materials (sprayed asbestos, lagging and insulating boards) must be removed by contractors who have a special government licence. Your local environmental health officer should be able to advise you on asbestos removal and licensed contractors. If you have asbestos removed that protects your home from fire, you must replace it with a suitable alternative.

Do you keep a list of properties where you know there is asbestos?

Yes, we have a detailed list of all the properties where we know there is asbestos. We use this to tell our contractors if they are doing work that may disturb any asbestos. If you are doing minor work to your home and are concerned about asbestos, contact your local office before you start.

For more information on asbestos please download our leaflet below.

 Asbestos in your home (334KB / 12 pages)