Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of tiny fibres. The use of building materials containing Asbestos was common between the mid-1940s and late 1990s.
Asbestos is now banned in the UK, but buildings and properties constructed before the year 2000 may still contain it, most likely to be found in insulation, flooring, roofs, ceilings and walls.
Materials containing Asbestos are unlikely to pose any harm unless they become damaged. If the materials become damaged, they may release Asbestos fibres into the air which can be breathed in. Long term exposure to Asbestos fibres can lead to lung disease, lung cancer and other respiratory problems.
Stockport Homes has a legal duty, under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, to ensure the effective and safe management of any Asbestos within its buildings to protect employees, contractors, customers and members of the public:
- Stockport Homes carry out Asbestos surveys to all communal areas (halls, stairwells, lift shafts, roof spaces, circulation areas, bin stores, boiler rooms etc). Items containing asbestos are regularly inspected to ensure they remain in good condition.
- Any items of Asbestos found to be in poor condition will be appropriately repaired or removed in a controlled manner.
- All Asbestos removal works are carried out by qualified and licenced contractors under controlled conditions, ensuring there is no risk posed to customers.
- Stockport Homes aim to go above and beyond the standard guidance and conduct an Asbestos management survey to each of its properties. We currently have over 88% of our properties surveyed.
- Staff and contractors are Asbestos Awareness trained so that they can identify any potential Asbestos materials and assess its condition.
- Before any major refurbishment works are carried out (e.g., roof, kitchen & bathroom replacement) an intrusive Asbestos survey is carried out to ensure items are not disturbed during the works. This may result in removal of Asbestos before refurbishment.
You may have materials containing Asbestos in your home. Unless damaged, these materials are unlikely to pose any harm, though extra care should be taken when doing DIY.
If you plan to undertake any alterations or significant refurbishment to your property, then you must seek permission so that Stockport Homes can determine if the presence of asbestos will affect the proposed work.
DO NOT drill, cut, scrape or sand materials if you suspect they may contain Asbestos. Bear in mind Asbestos can be found in textured paints, floor tiles, boarding and many other materials. If you are unsure, please ask us for advice on the number or email address below.
DO provide access to your property to allow us to carry out an Asbestos survey.
For information regarding any known items of Asbestos in your home or to request a survey of your property contact the Stockport Homes Customer Safety Team on 0161 218 1944 or email [email protected] . You can also download the Asbestos in your home leaflet for further advice and guidance.
We are currently working on completing an Asbestos management survey to all our properties built before the year 2000 so we can know where all the Asbestos-containing materials are across our stock. This will enable us to manage the Asbestos in customers’ homes much more effectively.
If you are unsure if an Asbestos Survey has been conducted on your property, contact the Stockport Homes Compliance and Building Safety Team on 0161 218 1944 or email [email protected]
Once you have made an appointment, please do ensure you are in at the required time and date so the survey can be completed.
To allow the survey to be carried out swiftly and with minimum disruption, in preparation please ensure:
- That there will be someone over the age of 18 in the property.
- Clear access to all rooms in the property
- All pets are kept within a secure room or outside.
- That you have sufficient time to allow the survey to be carried out. This can take between 45 minutes up to an hour and a half.
Upon arrival, the surveyor will present an ID badge to confirm who they are and that they work for AEC, our contracted Asbestos Consultants.
The surveyors will wear appropriate workwear and possibly overalls and a respirator at times, to allow them to safely complete their inspections.
If samples of any suspect materials are required, these will be taken in a discreet location and the area sealed afterwards. These samples will then be returned to a laboratory for analysis as it is not possible to tell Asbestos-containing materials by the naked eye.
Once the survey has been conducted, the report will be returned to the Stockport Homes Compliance & Building Safety Team and held on our online compliance system, Shine.
If you wish to receive a copy of the asbestos information for your property, please email your request to [email protected] or call 0161 218 1944.
