Asbestos

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural fibre. In the past, asbestos was used in the construction of buildings, including houses, mainly because of its resistance to heat and fire. It is now banned; however it can be left in building materials as long as it poses no risk to human health. Many people have concerns about asbestos, however if it is left undisturbed then it poses no real threat.

Why can asbestos be a problem?

When asbestos becomes damaged fibres can be released into the air. If these fibres are breathed in they can cause damage to your lungs. It is now illegal to put asbestos into new buildings. Please do not worry as the risk to you is extremely low. However you do need to be aware of asbestos if you are carrying out any DIY to your home.

How do you identify asbestos?

It’s impossible to tell whether a product contains asbestos just by looking at it. To be certain, a sample  of the product needs to be taken to a laboratory.

Where might asbestos be found?

Asbestos can be found in older homes, especially those built from 1950s – 1980s. Usually, it will be in areas you wouldn't normally have access to, like roofs or in internal finishes like artex coatings and floor tiles.

Here are some of the places it can most commonly be found:

• Eaves and soffits
• Garage and shed roofs and walls
• Corrugated cement
• Artex on ceilings and walls
• Insulation in some electric heaters
• Vinyl floor tiles and adhesive
• Cement boarding around fireplaces

What is SLH doing about asbestos?

SLH is committed to managing asbestos. Our policy is entirely in line with the Government’s Health and Safety recommendations. Specifically, this is to leave asbestos in place unless it is proving a health risk. If we find it’s not safe, we will decide either to remove it or seal it.

Exceeding the Government’s expectations, we plan to carry out asbestos surveys to all our homes. We will do this before we do any planned works such as bathroom and kitchen replacements. This is so that we have a complete record of homes that contain asbestos; putting the safety of tenants and workers who carry out repairs to your home first.

Can you do DIY in your home?

Yes, all tenants can carry out minor DIY in their home. If, however, you are concerned that your home may contain asbestos, please get in touch using the form below before you undertake any work. We will be able to tell you if your home has had an asbestos survey carried out and where the asbestos is likely to be in your home.

If an asbestos survey has not been carried out yet, then we will arrange for a full survey of your home.

As in line with your tenancy agreement, you should not carry out any major alterations or improvements to your home without permission from SLH.