Asbestos Surveys in London (23)

Asbestos is a name given to naturally occurring minerals and fibres that were once widely used in building materials in the UK due to their strength, fire resistance, and insulating properties.

However, asbestos is now known to be a serious health hazard. Inhaling asbestos fibres can cause serious lung diseases, including:

• Asbestosis – A chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres

• Lung cancer – Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer

• Mesothelioma – A rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs, chest, or abdomen

Even though the use of asbestos in most applications was banned in the UK in 1999, it is still present in many older buildings.

Therefore, it's crucial to handle any potential asbestos-containing materials with extreme care and always seek professional advice if you suspect asbestos in your property.

Worried you might have asbestos in your home? Speak to asbestos surveyors operating in London as soon as possible.

You can also find out more in our homeowner’s guide to asbestos in the home.

When buying a property that was built before the year 2000, there’s a possibility that the building may contain asbestos within the materials of the building structure.

An asbestos survey will help you to ensure that no asbestos is present – or, if it is present, to remove the asbestos safely and securely.

Head over to our guide on asbestos in the home to learn more.

If you've already had an asbestos survey on your property, you won't normally need to repeat it - unless there's asbestos present and you plan to undertake work on your property.

In this case, you'll need a more detailed asbestos survey, known as a refurbishment or demolition asbestos survey.

That said, if asbestos is present in a commercial property, you'll need to regularly update your asbestos management plan to record all changes relating to asbestos in the building.

Keen to get started? Search for asbestos companies working in London and get in touch with them yourself.

Or, use our request a quote feature to get multiple quotes from asbestos services – simply post details of what you need and we’ll get tradespeople to contact you directly.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognises three types of asbestos survey:

• Management survey – Locates ACMs likely to be disturbed during normal use
• Refurbishment survey – Focuses on specific areas before refurbishment begins
• Demolition survey – Full intrusive inspection before demolishing a building

Once your asbestos survey is complete, the surveyor will discuss their significant findings and provide you with a detailed report.

An asbestos testing report typically includes;

• The location, type, and condition of any asbestos found

• Recommendations include encapsulating, sealing, or removing the asbestos

• An asbestos register required for non-domestic properties to track identified materials

Your report will confirm that the property is safe for renovations or continued use if no asbestos is found.

The surveyor details any necessary removal or management of the asbestos, depending on the condition and risk level.

Similar principles apply to commercial properties as they do to domestic properties – if you’re dealing with a building that was constructed before 2000 then you need to carry out an asbestos survey.

Here’s a summary of which survey might be the most appropriate for your office move:

1. Your new office was built after 2000 – You probably don’t need to worry about an asbestos survey (but it’s always worth double checking with a local asbestos survey expert just to be safe)

2. Your new office was built pre-2000 and you don’t plan on doing any construction work – You’ll need a management asbestos survey to ensure that the building is fit for normal occupation of a building and that any potential asbestos is being safely managed.

3. Your new office was built pre-2000 and you do plan on doing construction work – You’ll need to organise a refurbishment and demolition asbestos survey before carrying out any construction work in the building (unless you have evidence to prove that there is definitely no asbestos present, due to prior removal or other evidence).

Use our online search to find and contact asbestos services covering your local area. Or, request a quote and we’ll do the legwork for you by getting checked asbestos services who work near you to contact you directly.

An asbestos survey for a standard-sized domestic property might take two to four hours. A survey of a large residential or commercial property can take a full day or longer.

When planning the inspection, ask the surveyor how long the asbestos survey will take to plan around your renovation.

For properties built before 2000, you need an asbestos survey before renovating or demolishing.

There are two types of surveys available;

• Refurbishment surveys are conducted on renovated areas to find, manage or remove asbestos

• Before tearing down a building, a demolition survey should be undertaken to identify the asbestos and ensure its safe disposal

If you do not find the asbestos-containing materials before the work begins, you can disturb the asbestos and release hazardous fibres. This is dangerous and can lead to fines or legal repercussions.

Need more asbestos advice? Read our homeowner’s guide to asbestos.

If you suspect that there’s asbestos in your property, here are the three steps to take:

• Don’t disturb it – Avoid any activities that could disturb the asbestos, e.g. drilling, sanding, or removing it yourself

• Contact an asbestos surveyor – Hire a professional asbestos survey to determine if asbestos is present and its condition

• Hire a licensed asbestos removal specialist – If asbestos is present, only a licensed expert should remove and dispose of the asbestos

Need help? Browse our list of checked asbestos removal services in London.

Absolutely not. DIY asbestos surveys are dangerous and illegal. Only trained, certified professionals can safely inspect and test for asbestos.

If you suspect asbestos in your home, don’t touch or disturb it. Instead, get a professional asbestos inspection in London as soon as possible.