Asbestos advice for council tenants

If you think there is asbestos in your home, contact us. We’ll inspect your property and advise you on what to do next.

What asbestos is

Asbestos is a natural mineral which was widely used in building materials for houses or buildings constructed before the year 2000.

Asbestos is resistant to heat and chemicals, which meant it was used in a wide range of building materials and household appliances. 

Due to health concerns, its use in products and buildings is now banned.

Where asbestos might be found

Asbestos might be found in these parts of a building:

• roof and wall cladding
• pipe lagging
• roof slates, lining and flat roof tiles
• flue pipes or air bricks
• internal partitions
• some types of insulation
• plastic or vinyl floor tiles
• ropes surrounding oven doors.

It could also be in these materials, fittings, or appliances:

• decorative textured coatings and paints applied to walls and ceilings
• floor tiles
• heating and ventilation flues and parts of heaters
• toilet cisterns
• bath panels
• old electrical fuse boxes
• access panels to service ducts
• screen panels under windows
• parts of roofs like fascia boards, soffits, roof tiles, rainwater gutters or pipes
• water storage tanks.

Potential risks of asbestos exposure

Asbestos is made up of small fibres which are harmful if you breathe in dust containing the fibres.

However, it’s only a health risk if materials containing asbestos are damaged or disturbed and the asbestos fibres are released.

If building parts or materials containing asbestos are in good condition, and structure, materials, or fittings are not going to be disturbed or damaged, there’s no risk to anyone living in the property.

Asbestos which has been painted or covered by other materials, or enclosed in ducts, pipes, or cupboards, for example, should also not be a risk if the materials are not disturbed or damaged.

How exposure to asbestos could affect your health (GOV.UK website).

If you’re a council tenant and think there’s damaged or exposed asbestos in your home, or you’re planning DIY or maintenance work, do not deal with it yourself. 

Be careful when disturbing or moving materials or fittings. Do not break or damage anything which may contain asbestos.

Report suspected asbestos

You can also report it by:

• phone on 0300 300 0300
• email at repairs@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

We’ll arrange an appointment with a technical officer to inspect your property and give you advice on what action, if any, needs to be taken.

They may also arrange for a sample of suspected material to be taken for analysis.

If we find asbestos in your home, we’ll arrange to have it removed. If we do not find any asbestos, you can begin any planned works or DIY in your home.