They will start at around £195 for a small flat and go up to £25,000 (if not more) for properties like schools or offices. Using yell.com will help you find the best value for money asbestos survey for you. The cost of an asbestos survey will vary depending on where the property is, as well as how large it is. They can therefore differ greatly in price.
An asbestos survey does not have to be carried out on a regular basis but an asbestos management survey plan does need to be completed to ensure that individuals can work safely within a building that has materials containing asbestos. Another survey is only required if renovations, demolition or maintenance may be carried out that will disturb the materials that incorporate asbestos.
An asbestos survey is required if you want to demolish a commercial property or building. The asbestos survey required is called a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey and it helps identify how a property can be demolished safely without putting people at risk of asbestos.
There are currently 2 types of asbestos surveys available. One is called a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey, and one is called an Asbestos Management Survey. The first is needed when work or demolition is being carried out on a property that has the potential to disturb any materials that may contain asbestos. The second is to be conducted when a building is identified as containing asbestos to ensure that no one is put in danger while being in the presence of asbestos materials in the property.
An asbestos survey is not legally required on domestic properties but it is required for commercial properties. After the survey is completed, an asbestos management plan is required to be set out. Without one, you are leaving yourself liable to a fine of up to £20,000, and imprisonment for up to 12 months.
Depending on the survey conducted, the methods can vary. A management survey is non-intrusive and will not inspect a property’s structure. Instead, samples are taken and analysed. For a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey, a surveyor will look for suspect building materials and take samples from several different locations, and it is far more invasive.
Strictly speaking, asbestos surveys last up until any other major work is carried out on a property. When any maintenance, refurbishment or demolition work is due to happen on a property, it will require an asbestos survey to be conducted. In the interim, an asbestos management plan should be kept about how to manage the containment of any asbestos in the building.
Currently, there is no legal need for you to have an asbestos survey conducted prior to selling a flat - or any property. However, while there is no legal requirement strictly necessary, you may find your buyer’s mortgage provider requires one. Plus, your buyer may want one, too, if they are thinking of carrying out any building work to the property in the future.
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