Asbestos in Residential Property 

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 is principally aimed at non-domestic properties but also applies to residential properties (flats) where there are shared common internal or external areas.

The legislation only applies to the common areas with the duty holder being the person or people responsible for the maintenance and repair of these areas.

Private residential properties are not covered by the regulations, although there is still an implied duty on householders to prevent anyone entering their property being exposed to an asbestos risk.

Asbestos was widely used in residential properties until the 1990's and may be found in roofing, flooring, decorative finishes such as artex, bath panels, loft insulation, guttering, downpipes, water tanks, boilers, flues, soffits, fire surrounds, roofing felts, damp proof courses, gutter linings, floor tiles, linoleum, backing paper to flooring, and garages.

House buyers are becoming increasingly aware of the possibility of the property they are buying containing asbestos, usually due to the valuation surveyor making comment in his report and recommending a specialist report. As a result we are carrying out an increasing number of asbestos surveys on residential properties.