Asbestos Safety

There are different types of surveys, which are completed for different reasons. This means your home may need several surveys over a period of time.

The descriptions below can help you understand what type of survey is needed.

Management Surveys - These are completed as a routine survey. If asbestos is found then this will be reviewed every 5 years to monitor and manage any asbestos.

• This type of survey is completed during normal building use to identify if asbestos is present, where it is and condition.
• It involves a visual inspection with minimal intrusion but will include taking some samples.
• It aims to manage asbestos safely.

Refurbishment Surveys – These are completed when there is specific works needed. They are only completed when required and are not on a schedule.

• This type of survey is completed to ensure it is safe to complete specific work and identify if any removals need to be completed first.
• This survey is intrusive and involves taking samples.
• It aims to remove or manage asbestos before work starts to prevent harm to anyone.

Demolition Surveys – These are completed before demolition works. They are only completed when required and are not on a schedule.

• This type of survey is completed to locate and identify any asbestos in a building/structure that will be demolished.
• This type of survey is highly intrusive and involves destructive techniques to access hidden areas to fully access the site.
• It aims to protect any workers and public from the dangers of asbestos during the demolition by removing it before demolition starts and potential techniques like explosives are used.

Asbestos was widely used in construction and can be found in many of the building materials in our properties.

It can be found in many areas of the home internally and externally, including but not limited to:

• Water tank
• Pipe lagging
• Loose fill insulation
• Textured decorative coatings (Artex)
• Ceiling tiles
• Bath panel
• Toilet seat and cistern
• Panel behind fuse box
• Panels within airing cupboard
• Partition walls
• Interior window panels
• Boxing around boiler
• Vinyl floor tiles
• Panels behind fire
• Gutters and downpipes
• Soffits and facias
• Exterior window panels
• Roof sheets
• Wall panels
• Roofing felt

It is important that you do not carry out any work in your home without permission from us, as the property may have asbestos. When you apply for permission, we can check our records and guidance will be provided as part of the permission response.

Permission for tenant alterations must be made in writing. This can be emailed to Housingrepairs@melton.gov.uk, hand delivered to our Parkside offices for the attention of the Housing Repairs Team or sent in the post to:

Housing Repairs Team,
Parkside,
Station Approach,
Burton Street,
Melton Mowbray,
Leicestershire,
LE13 1GH

We have a duty to manage asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. This sets out how asbestos should be managed in public areas and how to keep people safe.

We routinely inspect the communal areas with known asbestos and, if required, we will remove or contain it. 

Asbestos Management Surveys take place every 5 years in all properties that meet the criteria.

It is very important that you allow access for your asbestos check, if you fail to notify us without enough notice that you will not be in for the appointment a no access will be logged.

After 3 missed appointments, to meet our obligations as your landlord, it may be referred to the legal team and action can be taken to gain access to your property to make it safe. This will involve applying for an injunction with the court to gain access to complete the check. It is part of all tenants’ tenancy agreement to allow access for essential works. If formal legal action is taken to gain access to the property any costs incurred will be charged to you.

Asbestos Refurbishment Surveys are requested to complete specific work, such as for a new kitchen or bathroom. If the survey is not completed then the work will not be completed for the safety of everyone.