Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the construction industry until it was banned in the UK in 1999. The reason it was banned is due to its dangerous health effects, which include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos exposure are not immediate, and it can take years or even decades for symptoms to develop.

Asbestos was commonly used in insulation, roofing, and flooring, and its estimated that over half a million non-domestic properties in the UK still contain asbestos. Its also common to find asbestos in domestic properties built before the 1980s, mainly in the form of pipe lagging, textured decorative coating, and asbestos cement in garages and sheds.