Asbestos was used widely in British buildings for most of the 20th century. If your home or commercial building in London was built or refurbished before 2000, it may contain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). They are generally safe if left undisturbed. Drilling, sanding, removing or demolishing them can release fibres, which is why a survey matters before building work.
The 1999 ban: why 2000 is the cut-off
The UK banned blue and brown asbestos in the 1980s. The use of white asbestos (chrysotile) was banned in November 1999. Buildings built or refurbished before 2000 can therefore contain asbestos. Buildings built after 2000 are unlikely to contain it, although materials installed earlier can remain in later refurbishments.
Which eras carry the highest risk?
- Before the 1980s: the highest likelihood. Asbestos was used widely in insulation, boards, coatings and cement products.
- 1980s to 1999: asbestos was increasingly restricted, but it can still be found, especially in cement products, textured coatings, flooring and bitumen materials.
- Any building with older materials left in place: later refurbishments don’t always remove earlier materials.
Where asbestos is commonly found
- Textured coatings on ceilings and walls (such as Artex)
- Insulating board around boilers, in ceilings, partitions and fire doors
- Pipe and boiler lagging
- Cement sheets, corrugated roofing, soffits and gutters
- Floor tiles, adhesives and bitumen products
- Garage and outbuilding roofs, and sprayed coatings in some commercial buildings
You can’t identify asbestos by looking at it. Materials need to be sampled and tested.
Do you need a survey?
- Homeowners and landlords: a survey is strongly advisable before a renovation, extension, loft conversion, kitchen or bathroom refit, or when buying or selling a pre-2000 property.
- Commercial property: if you are responsible for maintaining non-domestic premises, you have a legal duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. An asbestos survey and register are the usual first step.
- Before any refurbishment or demolition: a refurbishment and demolition survey is required where work will disturb the structure.
Our survey options
We carry out management surveys, refurbishment and demolition surveys, and sampling and testing for domestic and commercial buildings built before 2000. Surveys from £250.
Frequently asked questions
Is asbestos dangerous if it hasn’t been disturbed? Usually not. The risk comes when materials are damaged or disturbed.
My home was built in 1995. Could it have asbestos? Yes, it’s possible. The 1999 ban means materials from the 1990s may still contain it.
Do I need a survey for a house I’m only decorating? Light decorating may not need one, but sanding or scraping textured coatings can disturb asbestos. If in doubt, test first.
What happens if asbestos is found? We report where it is and its condition. Many materials can be safely left in place and managed.
Get a written quote
Tell us about your property and we’ll send a written quote. Request a quote, or call 07707 999369.
Asbestos London Survey is a trading name of Primelinks Solutions Ltd (Company No. 17088688).