Asbestos and becoming a tenant in social housing

When moving into any form of rented social housing it makes sense to check for any health and safety hazards. One hazard many people might not be attuned to spotting is that of asbestos.

This applies to any house or flat that was built between the 1930s and the 1980s. However, due to a surge in the use of building materials containing the substance in the 1960s, any home that was built or refurbished around this time should be looked at with particular care.

It is estimated that there are currently around 5.5 million buildings in the UK that contain the hazardous substance, so the need for vigilant checking is very real.

Unfortunately, the process of checking is not as straightforward as many would hope. Only from 1976 onwards were British manufacturers obliged to fix a label to their products explaining that they contain asbestos, and it was not until 1986 that this obligation became Europe-wide. It is not always easy to identify the substance, so anyone in doubt should contact their local council for an inspection.

Surprisingly, not all materials containing the substance are marked for immediate removal, and the situation is often complicated in social housing. Only that marked as "high risk " will be considered suitable for immediate removal by contractors. In other cases the council will explain whether it needs maintanence, needs sealing, or (if it is in a safe condition) simply needs to be inspected, recorded and managed.

Because of the cost involved and the sheer scale of the job the complete removal of the substance from social housing in the UK is expected to take another 25 years. If you have any concerns, contact your local council.

No win, no fee lawyers of national reputation
Here at YouClaim we have many years experience of successfully representing people suffering from conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

The solicitors on our panel work right across the UK and are all governed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

If you believe that you have suffered asbestos exposure because of the negligence of another party, you may be able to claim compensation for your illness.

We represent you on a completely cost free basis. Win or lose, we do not charge you anything while also protecting you from the costs of the opposing legal side.

And, with our 100% compensation guarantee, you can rest assured that we will never take any cuts.

We can be reached online or over the telephone. Just fill out a claim form, use echat, or call a legal advisor on 0800 10 757 95.