Selling a House With Asbestos? What You Need to Know
Asbestos in houses is becoming more of an issue in the housing market, particularly for families with young children. The risks of asbestos can not only impact the value of a property but also make it very unappealing to prospective buyers. With this in mind, it’s worth taking steps to reduce the presence of asbestos and having inspections conducted to see if your home contains the deadly material. If you’re on the lookout for a new property or are thinking about selling your own home, you’ll want to take proper precautions – especially if it’s an older property. In today’s blog, we look at the laws involved with selling a house with asbestos and what you should do if you’re unsure about your property’s history.
Selling a house with asbestos: Everything you need to know
Where is asbestos found?
Asbestos can be found in older buildings and homes, but what most people don’t know is that there are actually two types of asbestos: friable (loose asbestos) and non-friable (bonded asbestos).
Buying a house with asbestos
Home inspections and asbestos assessments (sometimes called asbestos audits) typically form part of the due diligence process and provide a valuable service to purchasers of commercial and residential properties. Such reports will generally list any defects found during the inspection, whether there is ongoing maintenance required, and an overall assessment of the property’s condition. If you’re planning on buying an older property, having an asbestos assessment is crucial. This is because these properties are more likely to contain asbestos, especially if built between the 50s and 80s. However, if the asbestos found is in non-friable form, it may be simpler to encapsulate the material instead of removing it. This involves spraying a sealant onto the material, which stops the fibres from being released into the air.
Selling a house with asbestos
Can you sell a house with asbestos? If you plan on selling a house with asbestos, the property price will be affected – especially if there’s a lot of asbestos-containing materials throughout the home. An inspection can provide a detailed report on how much asbestos is present in your home, and a specialist will likely be able to provide a solution that’s a lot more cost friendly than you think. This might be removal or encapsulation. Having asbestos removed not only increases the value of your home but will also make it easier to sell.
Do you have to disclose asbestos when selling a house?
If you’re wondering ‘Do you have to disclose asbestos when selling a house’ or ‘Is it legal to sell a house with asbestos’, the answer is yes, you can still sell a house that contains asbestos, but a real estate agent must disclose that information by law or risk fines.
Interested to Learn More?
We hope our blog on selling a house with asbestos has answered all of your questions. If you’d like to contact us about our asbestos removal services, you can give us a call on 0412 314 588 or via our online form, and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible. For quality asbestos services Brisbane homeowners trust, get in touch with Myers Asbestos Removal today.