Do You Need An Asbestos Survey When Buying A House In Hampshire?

Are you planning on buying a property in Hampshire, England? It's essential to take important steps to ensure the property you're buying is safe, especially when it comes to asbestos. Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire is a firm chartered to handle asbestos-related issues, including surveys, inspections, and asbestos removal in Hampshire and South East England.

Asbestos is a building material that was widely used in the construction of properties before it was banned in 1999. It was used in various applications, including insulation, roofing, and flooring, due to its insulation and fire-resistant properties. Unfortunately, asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, are still prevalent, and exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of these illnesses.

In this article, we'll talk about why you need an asbestos survey when buying a house in Hampshire, what asbestos is, its dangers, where it might be found in your property, and how we can help you complete a survey.

Why You Need An Asbestos Survey When Buying A House In Hampshire?

When you're considering buying a new property in Hampshire, it's crucial to have the property surveyed to check for the presence of asbestos. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that any property built before 2000 should have a comprehensive asbestos survey. Additionally, if the property has undergone significant refurbishment or renovation work, it is important to know if any asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were disturbed during the work.

An asbestos survey will identify the presence, type and condition of any ACMs in the property. This will help you determine the risks posed by asbestos and the steps you need to take to protect yourself, your family, or your tenants from exposure to asbestos. Additionally, knowing the presence and condition of asbestos can affect your decision to purchase a property.

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used due to its insulating properties, flexibility, durability, and resistance to heat and chemicals. It was widely used in the construction industry in the UK until the 1980s, and it was entirely banned in 1999.

Asbestos is now known to be extremely dangerous to human health when disturbed, as its tiny fibres become airborne and can be inhaled, leading to serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis, among others.

There are different types of asbestos, including chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue). All forms of asbestos pose a risk to human health if disturbed, and it's challenging to know which type of asbestos is present in a property without an asbestos survey.

Where May Asbestos Be Found In A Property?

Asbestos may be present in any property built before the ban in 1999, although its use had declined by the 1980s. Some common areas where asbestos could be found include:

• Insulation materials around boilers, pipes, and ductwork
• Roofing and siding materials
• Flooring tiles and adhesives
• Decorative materials such as textured coatings, artex, and ceiling tiles
• Cement and plaster products

The presence of asbestos in a property is not always immediately apparent, which is why an asbestos survey is necessary to confirm whether ACMs are present or not.

How Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire Can Help You

If you're buying a property in Hampshire or South East England, Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire can provide you with reliable asbestos surveying services. Our experienced team will conduct a visual inspection of the property and take samples of any suspected ACMs. These samples will be sent to an independent UKAS accredited laboratory for analysis.

Once the results are back, we'll provide you with a detailed report of our findings. If ACMs are identified, the report will detail their location and condition and the remedial action required to manage the risk of asbestos exposure. We also provide asbestos removal services if necessary, whether it's a full asbestos removal or a safe encapsulation measure.

Conclusion

When buying a property in Hampshire or South East England, it's crucial to have an asbestos survey conducted by a reliable firm such as Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire. An asbestos survey can provide crucial information about any ACMs in the property, the risks involved, and the action needed to protect against exposure to asbestos.

If you need an asbestos survey in Hampshire or South East England, contact us at Affordable Asbestos Removal Hampshire today for a free, no-obligation quote. You can call us on 01962 458066 or email us at [email protected] to arrange a time for us to visit your property. We look forward to assisting you in ensuring your new home is safe for you and your family.