Square Mile property guidance

Asbestos surveys in the City of London

Survey enquiries for offices, mixed-use buildings, managed premises and refurbishment projects across the Square Mile. Tell us how the building is used and what work is planned so the survey scope can be matched to the actual risk of disturbance.

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Choose the survey around the work

There is no single survey that fits every property. A management survey is used to support normal occupation and ongoing management. Refurbishment and demolition surveys are more intrusive and are designed around the areas that will be altered or removed.

Managing an occupied building

Explain the parts of the premises that are in routine use, including plant rooms, service risers, storage areas and shared spaces where relevant.

Management surveys

Planning refurbishment

For fit-outs, strip-outs or structural alterations, the survey area should follow the planned work and may need intrusive access to concealed materials.

Refurbishment surveys

Demolition or major removal

Where demolition is proposed, the investigation must be appropriate to the areas that will be removed and should be completed before destructive work begins.

Demolition surveys

Commercial buildings need a clear scope

The City contains a dense mix of offices, retail units, hospitality premises, basements, service spaces and buildings that have been repeatedly altered. The age or prestige of a building does not prove whether asbestos is present. Previous refurbishments can also introduce different materials in different parts of the same property.

For a useful quotation, send the exact address, the areas you control, the intended work, access restrictions and any earlier asbestos information. If the building is occupied, include any constraints on intrusive access or working hours.

Areas we receive enquiries from

Bank, Barbican, Bishopsgate, Aldgate, Moorgate, St Paul’s, Blackfriars, Fleet Street and surrounding parts of the Square Mile. Some local names cross administrative boundaries, so the full postcode is used to confirm the property location and coverage.

Before booking

  • Provide the property address and building use.
  • Identify the rooms, floors or common areas to be included.
  • Send drawings or refurbishment plans where available.
  • Share any existing asbestos register or earlier report.
  • Confirm access arrangements, occupied areas and preferred dates.

City of London asbestos survey questions

Does every older office need the same type of asbestos survey?

No. The correct scope depends on how the building is used and whether work will disturb the fabric. Management and refurbishment/demolition surveys serve different purposes.

Can an existing asbestos register be used for a new fit-out?

It can be useful background information, but check whether its scope covers the exact areas and materials that will be disturbed by the new project.

Can a photograph confirm asbestos?

No. Appearance alone cannot confirm asbestos. Where identification is required, appropriate sampling and laboratory analysis may be necessary.

What should a managing agent send with an enquiry?

Send the address, managed areas, existing reports, access arrangements and details of any planned maintenance or refurbishment.

How quickly is a report available?

Timing depends on survey scope, access, appointment availability and any laboratory analysis. Confirm the expected turnaround before booking.

Start with the building and the work

Send the City of London property address, how the premises are used and what you need the survey to support. We will confirm coverage and discuss the appropriate next step.

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General guidance: HSE: arranging an asbestos survey · All London service areas