What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a type of building material that was used in homes from the 1950s – 1990s. It is no longer used to build homes because it is considered unsafe and is now regulated by law.

Many people think it is dangerous if you find asbestos in your home. However it only becomes a risk to your health if it is damaged or disturbed. If your home was built before the year 2000, there is a chance this building material may have been used in your home.

What are the risks?

If asbestos is damaged, some of the small fibres from the material can escape into the air like dust and cause damage to your lungs if you breathe it in. It can sometimes lead to lung diseases and cancer that only show many years later so it is important that you recognise the problems early.

Asbestos material is damaged through decorating and DIY work in your home such as drilling, sanding and sawing.

Where in my house could it be?

There are lots of places where you can find asbestos material in your home as it was used to mix with things like cement and plaster.

Examples include:

• Insulation boards between wall partitions.
• Flooring (PVC tiles).
• Sprayed coating and textured paints on ceilings and walls (Artex).
• Cement products like gutters, water tanks and rainwater pipes.
• Roof tiles, panelling and exterior walls.

What should I do if I think there is asbestos in my home?

Don’t panic, we are here to help and to keep our tenants safe. It is important that you leave the asbestos alone and contact us as soon as you can, especially if you are planning any DIY in your home. That way we can check all of the areas you want to work on before it causes you any harm.

If you have already damaged asbestos through decorating, don’t attempt to clean it up yourself. Using a vacuum to hoover it up may spread the fibres more. We can provide better advice on what happens next so get in touch.

What can Riverside do to help?

We are dedicated to managing asbestos-containing materials in our homes and keep a register for all properties and schemes. If you would like to find out more information about your home, please get in touch.

How do I tell Riverside about my concern?

Contact us straight away if you suspect there is asbestos in your home, this material may have been damaged and may be causing you harm.