Finding asbestos in your home is scary.
Most people panic when they find it. I get that fear.
Here’s my experience:
I’m Saif Derzi, managing director of Property Buyers Today. I’ve helped dozens of homeowners with asbestos since 2015.
You must tell buyers about asbestos and show all survey reports when selling.
Being honest keeps you safe from legal trouble and helps buyers trust you. Getting professional asbestos checks done early makes selling faster.
This guide shows you how to sell well.
You’ll learn which buyers want asbestos properties. I’ll share timing tips and ways to protect your price.
Best of all, you’ll avoid big mistakes other homeowners make. These mistakes cost thousands of pounds.
- Understanding Asbestos and Its Impact on Property Sales
- Your Legal Obligations When Selling Property with Asbestos
- Getting Professional Asbestos Assessment and Testing
- Remove vs Manage vs Sell As-Is: Making the Right Decision
- Selling Options for Properties with Asbestos
- Managing Buyer Concerns and Mortgage Challenges
- Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Your Asbestos Property
Understanding Asbestos and Its Impact on Property Sales
Asbestos can make selling your house much harder.
I’ve helped many sellers who found asbestos in their homes. Buyers get scared when they hear about it because they know it can be dangerous. But knowing what you’re dealing with helps you handle the problem better.
Asbestos was used to make buildings stronger and safer from fire.
It was put in many parts of houses between 1950 and 1980. You might find it in roof tiles, around pipes, textured walls, and floor tiles.
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it gets broken up or moved.
Houses built between 1950-1980 are most likely to have asbestos. Many buyers won’t even look at houses that might have it.
House values can drop when asbestos is found.
The law says you must tell buyers about any asbestos in your house. Insurance companies sometimes charge more or refuse to cover houses with asbestos.
Getting an asbestos survey costs around £200-£1,000. Safe removal costs £1,000-£4,000, depending on how much asbestos you have.
If you need to sell your house fast with asbestos, cash buyers understand these problems. They can buy quickly without needing difficult surveys and mortgages.
Only trained people should handle asbestos removal.
Your Legal Obligations When Selling Property with Asbestos
Selling a house with asbestos has strict legal rules. You must tell buyers about asbestos and handle it safely. Breaking these laws can get you fined or taken to court.
Property Information Form (TA6) Disclosure Requirements
The TA6 form asks about asbestos in your house.
You must tell the truth if you have or have had asbestos. Lying on this form is against the law. Buyers can take you to court if they find asbestos you didn’t tell them about.
Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 Compliance
These rules control how people deal with asbestos safely.
You cannot disturb asbestos without proper safety measures. This means no DIY removal or drilling into asbestos materials. Breaking these rules can mean big fines and court action.
Health and Safety at Work Act Obligations for Homeowners
This law makes you responsible for keeping people safe from asbestos.
You must warn anyone working in your house about asbestos. This includes builders, surveyors, and repair workers. Not telling workers about asbestos can lead to prosecution.
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Requirements
These rules stop sellers from lying to buyers about dangerous materials.
You cannot hide asbestos if you know it’s there. Asbestos seriously affects house value and buyers’ health decisions. Breaking these laws can mean big fines and court action.
Duty of Care to Buyers, Surveyors, and Tradespeople
You have a legal duty to protect people from asbestos exposure.
Anyone entering your house has the right to know about asbestos risks. You must provide clear warnings about asbestos locations. People who get sick from asbestos can sue for damages.
Asbestos Management Plan Documentation
You need written records about asbestos in your house.
Keep all asbestos survey reports and removal certificates safe. This information must be shared with buyers and workers. Good records protect you legally and help buyers make informed decisions.
Licensed Contractor Requirements for Removal Work
Only licensed contractors can remove certain types of asbestos.
High-risk asbestos like sprayed coatings needs licensed removal. Using unlicensed contractors is illegal and dangerous. Illegal removal work can result in prosecution and huge fines.
Waste Disposal Legal Obligations and Controls
Asbestos waste has special legal rules for disposal.
All asbestos waste counts as hazardous waste. You cannot put it in normal skips or household waste. Illegal dumping of asbestos can get you fined up to £50,000.
Getting all your legal paperwork ready before selling helps avoid these serious legal problems.
Getting Professional Asbestos Assessment and Testing
Getting the right help is important for asbestos problems.
I’ve seen many people try to check for asbestos themselves and make dangerous mistakes. This puts their family at risk and causes problems later. But trained people know how to stay safe and do proper tests.
Only specially trained people should check for asbestos.
There are two main types of checks. Some checks see if asbestos is safe to leave alone.
Other checks are needed before any building work starts.
Lab tests tell you exactly what type of asbestos you have. Risk checks show how dangerous it is.
Getting asbestos removed costs £1,000-£4,000, depending on how much needs to be taken out.
Getting a professional house check shows how asbestos affects your house value. Many sellers are shocked by how much money they might lose.
Key things you need:
- Special trained surveys – proper safety checks
- Lab tests – find out what type of asbestos
- Risk checks – show how dangerous it is
- Removal quotes – budget for safe removal
If asbestos is left in place, it needs to be checked regularly. This proves it stays safe over time.
Remove vs Manage vs Sell As-Is: Making the Right Decision
Deciding what to do about asbestos in your house affects your money and time. You have three main choices. Understanding the real costs helps you make the best choice.
Professional Asbestos Removal Costs
Asbestos removal costs lots of money, depending on how much you have.
Small amounts might cost £1,000 to £3,000 to remove safely. Big jobs can cost £10,000 to £15,000 or even more. The price depends on how much asbestos and where it is.
Removal near important parts of your house costs more. Some big jobs cost £50,000 or more to fix completely.
Licensed Contractor Requirements and HSE Regulations
Only specially licensed contractors can remove dangerous asbestos.
High-risk asbestos needs contractors with HSE licenses. These contractors have special training and equipment. Using unlicensed contractors is illegal and dangerous.
Make sure contractors have proper licenses before hiring them. Licensed work costs more but keeps everyone safe.
Asbestos Management In-Situ vs Complete Removal Options
You can either remove asbestos or manage it safely.
Management means leaving asbestos alone and monitoring it regularly. This works if asbestos is in good condition and not disturbed. Removal means taking all asbestos out completely.
Management is much cheaper but needs ongoing monitoring. Removal costs more upfront, but solves the problem permanently.
Insurance Coverage for Asbestos Removal and Testing
Most house insurance doesn’t cover asbestos removal costs.
Insurance companies see asbestos as a maintenance issue, not an emergency. You usually have to pay for removal and testing yourself. Some specialist policies might help with costs.
Get quotes for removal work before making decisions. Factor in that insurance probably won’t help with costs.
Timeline Considerations for Safe Removal Procedures
Asbestos removal takes weeks or months to complete safely.
Planning and licensing can take 4-6 weeks before work starts. The actual removal work takes 1-4 weeks, depending on size. You might need to move out during the removal work.
During removal, you cannot sell your house normally. Most buyers won’t consider properties with ongoing asbestos work.
Health and Safety Implications During the Removal Process
Asbestos removal creates health risks that need careful management.
Professional contractors use special equipment to contain asbestos dust. Air monitoring checks that the removal is done safely. You and your neighbors need protection during work.
Poor removal work can spread dangerous asbestos fibers. Only use properly licensed and insured contractors for safety.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Removal vs Immediate Sale
Working out the numbers helps you decide what’s best financially.
Selling as-is means you get money quickly, but much less of it. Houses with asbestos typically sell for 20% to 40% less than normal.
Removal costs thousands upfront and takes months. Even after removal, your house might still be worth less than similar houses.
Consider how much your house is really worth with and without asbestos before deciding.
Ongoing Management Responsibilities and Monitoring
If you choose management, you have ongoing legal duties.
Annual checks ensure asbestos stays in good condition. You must keep records and warn anyone working in your house. Management plans need updating regularly.
These ongoing duties continue until asbestos is removed. Factor these long-term costs into your decision.
Selling Options for Properties with Asbestos
Estate Agents
The usual route is tough for houses with asbestos:
- Average sale time: 12-18 months (takes much longer – buyers get scared)
- 2 in 3 sales fall through (most fail when people find out about asbestos)
- You need agents who know about asbestos problems
- You’ll pay these costs:
- Agent fees (up to 3%)
- Legal fees (up to £4,000)
- Asbestos checks and reports (£300-£1,000)
- Removal costs if needed (£2,000-£15,000)
- Safety certificates and licenses
- Very few buyers want asbestos houses
Property Buyers Today
When asbestos makes your house hard to sell:
- We can buy in just 7 days
- No mortgage worries or scared buyers
- What you get:
- No agent fees
- We pay legal costs
- No house viewings – we buy asbestos houses as-is
- No removal costs – we handle asbestos ourselves
- We know how to deal with asbestos safely
- Date you can count on
- Trade-off: Get up to 85% of house value (often better after removal costs and long waits)
Expert cash house buyers like Property Buyers Today know asbestos and take care of everything.
Property Auction
Selling at auction brings buyers who know about asbestos:
- Timeline: 3-4 months
- The sale happens right away when the hammer falls
- Things to know:
- House sold as-is – buyers know about asbestos
- Brings builders and fix-up experts
- Risk of selling for much less because people fear asbestos
- Must tell everyone about asbestos in sale papers
- Wait 4-8 weeks until auction day
- Wait 28 days to finish the sale
- Entry fees cost (up to £1,000)
- Auction house takes (up to 6%)
- Full asbestos details must be shared
Read our guide on selling a house at auction to learn how this works for asbestos houses.
Managing Buyer Concerns and Mortgage Challenges
Asbestos makes getting a mortgage tricky for buyers.
I’ve seen many sales fall through because banks won’t lend money for houses with asbestos. Buyers get excited about your house, then find out their bank says no. This happens even when the asbestos is managed safely.
Most banks are scared of asbestos properties.
Banks want special reports about asbestos before they’ll lend money. Insurance costs go up for new buyers, too.
The legal process takes much longer than normal sales.
Any management plans for asbestos must be passed to new owners. This shows them how to stay safe.
Expect lots of things that can hold up the exchange of contracts with asbestos properties. The legal paperwork is much more complicated.
Key challenges include:
- Banks refusing to lend money
- Higher insurance costs for buyers
- Extra legal paperwork and safety checks
- Much longer completion times
Many buyers will walk away when they hear about asbestos. This is normal, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it.
Why Choose Property Buyers Today for Your Asbestos Property
Don’t want the hassle of sorting out the asbestos, but need a quick sale?
That’s where we can come in.
Here are just some of the reasons why so many people choose to sell their property with us…
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
