Asbestos

Asbestos products are found in most homes and if they are in a good state of repair, and left undisturbed, they present no hazard to health.

Asbestos products may be found externally in your home in the following places:

• Eaves soffit
• Rain water gutter
• Rain water pipe
• Flue pipes and terminals
• Roof tiles
• Corrugated cement sheeting - usually on sheds and garages

Internal asbestos products may be found in the following places:

• Textured coating (ARTEX) - usually before 1990
• Fire stop panels - inside heater cupboard doors or near a heat source
• Ceilings and wall boards
• Floor tiles - thermo plastic
• WC cisterns made from composite materials
• Flue pipes - asbestos cement
  

Anyone who disturbs asbestos, whether it has deteriorated or been damaged to the extent that it releases fibres, may be at risk. If you undertake work that involves drilling, sawing, abrading or cutting into the fabric of any material containing asbestos you could potentially be at risk.

If you are concerned about any suspect material in your home, consider that it may contain asbestos until proven otherwise. You should not carry out any structural repairs or improvements to your home above and beyond cleaning and basic decorating unless you have checked with us first.

For further information about asbestos, please contact the Community Protection Unit.

Council tenants and leaseholders

Council tenants and leaseholders must ask for the Council's permission for proposed alterations. We may not give permission if we feel there is a likelihood of removing or damaging asbestos products. If you have any queries about asbestos in a Council property or you need to arrange the removal of the substance, then please contact us.

Last update: 20/06/2011