Many older homes contain asbestos. Left alone and in good condition it is usually safe, but damaged asbestos is dangerous. Here is what to do and what your landlord must do.
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In short
Asbestos went into many homes built or done up before the year 2000. Think old floor tiles, textured ceilings, pipe lagging, garage roofs. In good condition and left alone, it is usually safe.
The danger arrives when it is damaged, drilled, sanded, or broken up and the fibres reach the air. Never disturb it. Damaged asbestos means telling the landlord at once, never removing it yourself. Did a landlord or their contractor damage asbestos and ignore the risk? You may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
The key rule: do not disturb it
- Never drill, sand, scrape, saw, or break anything you think holds asbestos.
- Never remove it yourself: removal must be done safely, sometimes by a licensed contractor.
- A cracked or crumbling panel or tile means keeping people and pets away, and reporting it.
The Health and Safety Executive has clear advice on spotting and handling it at hse.gov.uk/asbestos.
What your landlord must do
- In blocks of flats, the landlord must manage asbestos in the shared parts. That covers halls, stairwells, and plant rooms, under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
- Damaged asbestos, or asbestos stirred up by works, must be made safe. Removal or sealing follows where needed.
- Any repair or refit that might disturb asbestos calls for a check first.
What to do
- Report in writing, with the location and photos taken without touching the material.
- Ask whether the landlord holds an asbestos survey for the building.
- A contractor about to drill or cut where you suspect asbestos should check first: ask them.
- Keep copies of everything, dated.
Where we fit in
Support for Tenants helps with housing disrepair claims. Was asbestos damaged and left, or stirred up by careless works the landlord ignored? That can form part of a disrepair or health claim.
Safety advice on asbestos itself belongs with the Health and Safety Executive, and with the council's environmental health team. Call us free on 0800 030 4669, send the short form, or message us on WhatsApp. See also where to get other housing help.
Sources
- Asbestos (Health and Safety Executive)
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 24 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.
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