Wondering if you need an asbestos survey before renovation? Wolverhampton homeowners do. Wolverhampton and West Midlands housing stock is old. Most homes in the area were built after the war. During 1950 and 1985, building materials commonly had asbestos.

But even homes built after 1985 still have asbestos. Because the UK only banned the mineral in 2000.

The housing stock and HSE’s rules mean Wolverhampton homeowners and landlords have to be aware of asbestos.

Asbestos Survey Before Renovation Wolverhampton Legal Requirements

Despite rules around asbestos surveys being decades old, there’s still confusion surrounding them. When do you have a survey? Who does the survey? Do you need a survey?

• An asbestos survey must be done before work begins. If you intend to renovate or repair your Wolverhampton home, you first need to have a survey. When you don’t know if your home has asbestos, the HSE’s rules say you should assume materials contain asbestos. Under this assumption, a survey is a must.
• You must get a survey if materials containing asbestos will be disturbed. Should contractors need to disturb any material in your home to carry out their work, you’ll need an asbestos survey. This includes maintenance work, where contractors could come into contact with asbestos.
• You must use an HSE-licensed contractor to do a survey. To be compliant with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, you must hire an HSE-licensed surveyor. During the process, these surveyors inspect for asbestos-containing materials (ACM). They’ll consider where these materials are located. Because they need to determine if these materials will be disturbed during use of or renovation on the property.  

What Happens if You Don’t Do a Survey Before Renovation?

If you don’t have a survey before you start renovating, you’ll face fines. The average HSE fine is £7,400. But homeowners and landlords can face fines of up to £20,000. These fines are becoming more common as the HSE clamps down on non-compliance.

Besides, you’re putting contractors at great risk if you don’t do a survey. Because should they disturb this toxic material, they could be inhaling asbestos that can develop into lifelong ailments.

The Difference Between a Management and Refurbishment Survey

You don’t need both a management and refurbishment survey before renovation. Instead, depending on the purpose of the survey, you’ll choose one.

1. Management Survey: A management survey is brief and non-invasive. It determines where asbestos is likely to be in the home. This survey is primarily visual. Surveyors will check the condition of ACM and determine the risk during typical occupancy. After the survey, a landlord will get a report, allowing them to watch for deterioration. If sampling is needed, it will be minor and non-invasive. All commercial properties, including flats, built before 2000, must have an asbestos management survey in place.
2. Refurbishment Survey: A refurbishment survey is a deeper inspection. These are required for repairs, maintenance, and refurbishment. Before any construction, a surveyor will do a detailed inspection. They’ll take samples of different materials to define the presence, type, and location of asbestos.

8 Common Materials Containing Asbestos

Homeowners often don’t think about how common asbestos is. From the 1950s until 1999, nearly every building material contained some asbestos. Unless you live in a home built after 2000, you’ll have some asbestos in your home. These are the standard offenders:

• Artex: To make decorative walls and ceilings, contractors would use Artex, which, before 1999, contained asbestos.
• Cisterns: Toilet cisterns from the 50s,60s, and 70s can contain asbestos.
• Cladding: Insulation and cladding are common asbestos culprits. They don’t need frequent replacing, which means some homes still have cladding from the 1980s.
• Fireboard: Commercial buildings and flats may use fireboard to prevent the spread of fire or insulate heat. This material can contain up to 100% asbestos.
• Panels: Panelling around fireplaces and windows often contain asbestos.
• Pipe Lagging: Many Wolverhampton homes still have pipe insulation from the 80s and 90s, when asbestos was common.
• Roof Sheets: The last remaining roof sheets from the asbestos era will only need replacing in 2029. Hence, there are hundreds of Wolverhampton homes that still have roof sheets with asbestos.
• Tiles: Vinyl tiles were made of asbestos, and so was the adhesive for these tiles.

You don’t need to spend more than £1 on a management or refurbishment survey in Wolverhampton. You can get access to our HSE-approved surveys for free. If you own a home in the region, you’re eligible. Schedule your free asbestos survey today.