Guide on managing asbestos for landlords
Advice for landlords
Asbestos could be present in any property built before 2002. (Although a legal ban was imposed in 1999, this does not account for existing building stock)
This landlord’s guide to asbestos is designed to help you understand the potential risks, keep yourself compliant, and your tenants and tradespeople safe.
What responsibilities do landlords have to manage asbestos?
Your responsibilities
To identify the presence of asbestos, you should carry out a survey of your property. There are two types of surveys you can undertake: a management survey or a refurbishment and demolition survey.
A management survey is a non-intrusive inspection that aims to identify the presence and condition of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) that may be present in your property. This ensures a level of preparedness should you need emergency trades at the site in the event of fire or flood for example.
A landlord's key tasks for managing asbestos
Landlord's asbestos essentials
Carry out an asbestos survey
Identify any asbestos present in your property, especially before conducting any refurbishment.
Create an asbestos register
Record any sources of asbestos in your property noting its location, condition and type.
Alert tradespeople to asbestos
Make sure that all tradespeople are aware of the asbestos in the property and are adequately trained before disturbing it.
What do landlords need to know about asbestos?
Asbestos fundamentals
Asbestos is a hazardous, fibrous material that was commonly used in building products manufactured and fitted until 1999.
It was popular for it’s unique properties, which made it great for fire/heat resistance, sound proofing and durability. It can be found in various forms such as insulation (AIB), textured coating (artex), floor tiles (Marley), cement roofing, and many more.
Asbestos is safe when contained, maintained and in good condition, but disturbing a simple building could put you, your tenants, or any tradesperson you employ at serious risk.
What should a landlord do to record asbestos?
Management survey
To identify the presence of asbestos, you should carry out a survey of your property/properties. There are two types of surveys you can undertake: a management survey or a refurbishment and demolition survey.
A management survey is a non-intrusive inspection that aims to identify the presence and condition of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) that may be present in your property. This ensures a level of prepared for any trade visit to your property portfolio, especially should you need emergency trades at the site in the event of fire or flood for example.
Ensuring a safe property renovation
Refurbishment Survey
On the other hand, a refurbishment and demolition survey will be required before starting any significant refurbishment of the property. This is a fully intrusive survey, designed to uncover any asbestos used in the fabric of the building and requires taking samples of any suspected ACMs to determine the type and extent of asbestos present.
As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure that any asbestos work carried out, and waste produced from your property, is dealt with correctly to avoid harm to people and the environment.
Best practices for maintaining your property
Asbestos Register
After identifying the presence of asbestos, you must take steps to manage it effectively to remain compliant. This includes creating an asbestos register that details the location, condition, and type of asbestos in your property.
It is also essential to ensure that any tradespeople you hire are aware of the presence of asbestos and have the necessary skills and training to handle it safely.
Finally, you must ensure compliance with regulations for the disposal of any asbestos waste from your property to avoid harm to people and the environment.
By following these steps and remaining compliant, you can help keep your tenants safe, reduce the risk of exposure to this hazardous material, and avoid any legal consequences.
Don't let asbestos put your tenants at risk
Identify and manage asbestos in your property today
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Helping you understand asbestos
frequently asked questions
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause serious health problems. Landlords must be aware of the presence of asbestos in their properties and take steps to manage it safely.
Landlords have a legal responsibility to manage asbestos in their properties. This includes conducting regular asbestos surveys, keeping an up-to-date asbestos register, and providing information to tenants and contractors/trades about the presence of asbestos. Landlords must also take steps to manage asbestos safely and arrange for professional removal when necessary.
The only way to determine if a property contains asbestos is to conduct an asbestos survey. This involves a trained professional taking samples of suspected asbestos-containing materials and sending them to a laboratory for analysis. If the materials are found to contain asbestos, the survey will identify the type, location, and condition of the materials.
If you suspect that your property contains asbestos, you should arrange for an asbestos survey as soon as possible. In the meantime, you should take steps to ensure that the suspected asbestos-containing materials are not disturbed or damaged, as this could release asbestos fibers into the air.
If asbestos-containing materials are identified in your property, you must take steps to manage them safely. This may include sealing or enclosing the materials to prevent them from releasing fibers, or removing them completely. Any work involving asbestos must be carried out by a trained professional and in accordance with regulations.
The frequency of asbestos surveys depends on the type of property and the level of risk. In general, if your property was built before the year 2000, you should have an annual reinspection. However, if there are any changes to the property that could disturb asbestos-containing materials, such as renovations or repairs, you should have a refurbishment survey conducted before any work begins.
It is not recommended to remove asbestos-containing materials yourself, as this can be extremely dangerous. Asbestos removal should only be carried out by a trained professional who has the necessary equipment and knowledge to do so safely. Attempting to remove asbestos yourself could result in serious health risks for you and others in the property.
If a tenant reports a suspicion of asbestos-containing materials in their property, you should arrange for an asbestos survey as soon as possible to determine the presence and condition of the materials. You should also inform the tenant of the situation and take steps to ensure that they are not exposed to any asbestos fibers.
Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. These diseases can take years or even decades to develop, and there is no cure for them. Therefore, it is important to manage asbestos-containing materials safely and to avoid exposure as much as possible.
You can educate your tenants about the risks of asbestos and what you are doing to manage it in your property by providing them with information about asbestos and the steps you are taking to manage it.
Commercial building will leave you with full responsibility,. You still have a responsibility within domestic, however there are different levels such as communal areas, domestic dwellings, maintenance staff.
The responsibility is ultimately with a property owner, however, should you use a management company to assist you with your tenancy agreements, property maintenance etc there are many areas which come under ‘shared responsibilities’. This is not clear cut, we can guide you through your individual needs, contact us for a no obligation advice call.
