The presence of asbestos in your property: what solutions are available?

Everything you need to know about asbestos, its past use and its dangers

Asbestos is a natural mineral fibre that, for a very long time, was used as a material in construction for its insulating qualities and its durability. It was found in roofing, floor tiles or ceiling tiles, ventilation ducts and other installations. From the 1950s until the 1990s, this material, with its acoustic and thermal insulation qualities and its fire-resistant properties, was widely used in the construction and renovation of buildings. Today, it is a material that represents a real danger to health and that has been banned since 1997.

Indeed, when asbestos-containing materials deteriorate, they release invisible fibres that are extremely harmful and can cause serious illnesses. This explains the major health risk it represented and the reason for its ban from 1997 onwards.

If your home, house or flat, was built before this date, it is possible that your property shows traces of asbestos. Therefore, at present, in order to protect occupants and comply with the regulations in force, it is essential to carry out an asbestos diagnostic.

In this article, discover everything you need to know about asbestos in a home, the various legal obligations and how to carry out asbestos removal before selling or renting your property.

The current regulatory context surrounding this material

Since its ban, the use and management of asbestos have been strictly regulated. All properties whose building permit predates 1 July 1997 must undergo an asbestos diagnostic before any sale or before carrying out any work.

This diagnostic aims to identify the presence or absence of asbestos-containing materials or products.

The presence of asbestos must not render the home unfit. It must still be habitable without endangering the health of others.

The legislation currently in force does not provide for the detection of asbestos in low concentrations to render a property uninhabitable. At present, the seller is not required to systematically undertake asbestos removal when a sale is planned.

However, whatever the nature of the property (house or flat), the seller is required to have a diagnostic carried out to inform potential buyers of the home about the presence or absence of asbestos.

What should you do if your home contains asbestos, and how do you find out?

There is only one reliable way to know whether a property contains asbestos: call on a certified professional diagnostician to carry out an asbestos diagnostic.

As mentioned above, this diagnostic will make it possible to identify the presence or absence of asbestos-containing materials, their state of preservation and thus the risks they pose to the occupants of the building.

In the event that a home (house or flat) does contain asbestos, several actions will then have to be considered:

• Setting up regular monitoring of the materials and their condition,
• Carrying out containment work (known as encapsulation),
• Carrying out asbestos removal work for the total or partial removal of the
  contaminated materials,
• Keeping the occupants and the various stakeholders informed.

It is the results of the asbestos diagnostic report or DTA (asbestos technical diagnostic) that will be able to define the actions to be taken. Do not hesitate to turn quickly to an experienced diagnostician!

Owners: how does asbestos removal take place before the sale of your
property?

As owners, if asbestos is detected in your property and its condition poses a danger to occupants, it is essential to carry out a property diagnostic and then asbestos removal work.

Discover below the stages of this work following the preliminary diagnostic (DTA
asbestos technical diagnostic):

• Identification of asbestos-containing materials and risk assessment,
• Preparation before the work, with the removal of any furniture or objects located
  nearby,
• Dust removal from all surfaces,
• Containment of the area so as not to spread asbestos fibres,
• Removal of the asbestos by certified professionals,
• Cleaning of the space and the various surfaces,
• Treatment of waste, such as asbestos, in specialised centres,
• Issuance of an asbestos removal certificate,

It is imperative to call on qualified professionals to carry out all of this
work in order to benefit from an optimal result and at reduced risk to everyone’s health.

The responsibility of professionals and the period of validity of the diagnostic

The property diagnostician is responsible for the quality of their expertise. As a certified and recognised professional, they follow a methodology to provide the asbestos diagnostic.

This document has varying validity periods depending on its results. Indeed, if a diagnostic concludes that there is no trace of asbestos, it is valid for an unlimited period.

In the event that asbestos is detected and stated in the result of the asbestos diagnostic, it is mandatory to have periodic checks carried out, generally every 3 years.

It should be noted that it is entirely possible to contest an old asbestos diagnostic during a transaction. In order to secure the sale of a home, do not hesitate to renew the diagnostic.

Asbestos in a flat: is it possible to sell or rent a property containing asbestos?

Indeed, we briefly mentioned this at the beginning of this article. It is entirely possible to sell or rent a home containing asbestos, provided that this presence is clearly indicated in the technical diagnostics file (DDT), the document given to the buyer or tenant.

It should also be noted that if the asbestos poses a risk to the health of the future occupants, or if the asbestos-containing material has deteriorated, work may be required before the transaction.

It is mandatory to present complete transparency in the information provided on this subject. The absence of a valid diagnostic can lead to consequences such as the cancellation of the sale or penalties for the seller.

Get in touch with RITMODiag to carry out your asbestos diagnostic

At RITMODiag, we offer the services of experienced and recognised diagnosticians. We put all our expertise at the service of your safety.

Our teams are able to act quickly at your property to carry out a complete asbestos diagnostic, in compliance with the regulations in force.

You can contact us now on 02 31 15 64 88.

Get your free quote now!