Asbestos safety for council homes

Properties built before 2000 could potentially include materials that contain asbestos. Asbestos products within your home typically make up the structure of the building and are safe if not disturbed. 

We meet our regulatory and statutory responsibilities in managing asbestos in council homes to keep tenants safe.

What to do in an asbestos emergency

If you believe you have disturbed an asbestos-containing material, or it has become disturbed from an emergency such as a leak, follow these steps:

  1. Leave the area of disturbance, shutting doors behind you.
  2. Contact us and explain what occurred, so we can check any existing asbestos data held on the system.
  3. Do not attempt to clean or vacuum the area, as this can spread the contamination.
  4. Move to a place of safety away from the affected area.
  5. If your clothes have become contaminated, inform the call handler for further instruction.

You can contact us by phone. 

Telephone: 0300 373 0373
24-hour service

Asbestos safety checks

To help meet our regulatory and statutory requirements, we survey and keep records of our property portfolio in relation to asbestos information.

Surveys that are likely to be undertaken are:

  • Management surveys: These are undertaken on communal areas to identify asbestos-containing materials and help manage them for day-to-day occupancy. Any items of asbestos that are located will then be managed and periodically inspected.
  • Refurbishment and demolition surveys: These are undertaken when works are required that needs a more in depth check to ensure tenants and contractors remain safe.
  • Regulation 4 re-inspections: These are carried out in communal areas a set intervals to ensure the asbestos remains in a good condition.

Any checks in communal areas will be undertaken at regular intervals and are unlikely to be notified to tenants. We may place a notice on a communal noticeboard to alert tenants to a visit.

Where access to the property is needed, you will be notified within a reasonable time unless it is an emergency situation. We ask that all council tenants make every effort to support this.