The short answer
Gov.uk says asbestos “may be present in any house or building built before the year 2000”, and HSE warns it’s especially likely where a building was constructed or refurbished before 2000. In homes, the most common places are outside: cement garage roofs, gutters, soffits and flues. Inside, textured ceilings, floor tiles, boiler cupboards and old insulation are the usual suspects. HSE’s building diagrams show typical locations.
Finding a material in one of these places doesn’t mean it contains asbestos. It means it’s worth testing or presuming before you disturb it.
Outside the house
- Garage and shed roofs and walls: corrugated asbestos cement sheets. See is my garage roof asbestos?
- Soffits and fascias: asbestos cement or insulating board under the eaves. See soffits and fascias.
- Gutters and downpipes: grey cement rainwater goods.
- Roof tiles, slates and felt: some cement slates and bitumen roofing felt.
- Panels under or beside windows: cement or AIB infill panels.
- Porch and lean-to roofs: cement sheets or canopies.
- Flue pipes: cement flues from old boilers or fires.
Loft and roof space
- Water tanks: grey cement cold water tanks. See water tanks and flues.
- Flues passing through the loft.
- Loose-fill insulation: rare, but where it’s present it is a high-risk material that needs a contractor holding an HSE licence. Don’t disturb fluffy grey-blue insulation.
- Boards and fire breaks between properties or around hatches.
Living rooms, bedrooms and hallways
- Textured ceilings and walls (Artex and similar). See Artex asbestos.
- Panels behind or around fires and heaters, often AIB. HSE has a task sheet for removing a single old heater, because they can contain asbestos parts.
- Old storage heaters: some older models contained asbestos.
- Ceiling tiles and boxing-in around pipes.
- Doors with fire protection panels, mostly in flats and older conversions.
Kitchens and bathrooms
- Floor tiles and their black bitumen adhesive. See asbestos floor tiles.
- Textured ceilings, common in bathrooms.
- Toilet cisterns and old panels behind baths.
- Boxing-in and wall panels around pipes.
Boiler cupboards and airing cupboards
- Linings and panels, often AIB, around old boilers and hot water cylinders.
- Pipe lagging on older pipework. See pipe lagging and boilers.
- Rope seals and gaskets in old boilers.
- Flue pipes leaving the boiler.
Fuse boards and meter cupboards
Older fuse boxes sometimes had asbestos in fuse carriers, flash guards or the board behind them, and some meter cupboards were lined with AIB. HSE has a task sheet for trained workers replacing a fuse box. If you’re having your electrics updated, mention the age of the board to your electrician.
Garages and outbuildings
Besides the roof, look for cement wall panels, AIB linings, old floor tiles and cement gutters. Asbestos also turns up as broken pieces buried in gardens where an old shed or garage once stood.
What to do if you find something
- If it’s in good condition and you’re not planning work, HSE’s advice is to leave it alone and check it from time to time.
- Before drilling, sanding, removing or renovating, get it tested or arrange a survey.
- Don’t put asbestos in household waste. Ask your local council or a contractor about disposal.
We carry out surveys, take samples and remove non-licensed materials such as garage roofs, Artex, floor tiles, soffits, tanks and flues. Ask us for a quote.
Quick answers
Is my 1990s house likely to have asbestos?
It’s less likely than in older homes, but possible. White asbestos wasn’t banned until 1999. See our guide to asbestos by era.
Do I need a survey to sell?
There’s no legal requirement for owner-occupied homes, but buyers may ask questions. See buying a house with asbestos.
Is it safe to live with?
Materials in good condition that are left alone carry very low risk. The risk comes from damage and disturbance.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For the law itself, see the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSE’s asbestos pages. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ask us.