Asbestos House survey

[ukessex09]

we are in process of buying house of 1950

we did full survey and this what was the comment on Asbestos 

The main roof and garage generally are aged, with the under felt below the main roof tiles  possibly having an Asbestos fibre content, this membrane has degraded in places and is no  longer effective.

Roofing under­felt may contain Asbestos fibres, now degraded and hanging down 

he had 2 suggestions

Remove degraded roofing under felt (having tested for Asbestos  content first) and replace from loft space side as a temporary  measure
£2000

or
Long term replace main roof tiles £7000

this 3 bed detached house in essex

Please could you advise if we should ask the seller to fix these issues by testing asbestos and removal or ask for price reduction.

is replacing the roof better option and and is £7000 budget is good as per the report?

The main roof is pitched and hipped, with concrete plain tiles over an under felt and  battens, the tiles are the original ones and although aged are in fair condition at present.  There is a significant amount of moss to the surface of the tiles, this should be removed so  a full inspection can take place, it may be that there are some cracked tiles but this  cannot be seen at present. The under felt may have an Asbestos fibre content given the age of the material and  manner in which it is degrading, there are large areas that are ripped and missing so the  under felt is not longer effective. Long term the main tiles will need replacing, but in the short term the under felt should be  tested to confirm if Asbestos is present, only then can it be disturbed and removed to allow  a new under felt to be provided from within the loft space, please note this is only a  temporary suggestion at this stage to prevent draught's/water ingress risk

[herewego]

I'd like to know how they propose to fit new felt from inside, that sounds extraordinary. £7k for refelting and tiling a detached roof sounds a bargain.
As far as the house bargaining goes, the seller might offer to knock a bit off or he might not.

[netherfield]

Possibly?, maybe not as well.

[PostHeads123]

I would get the seller to reduce price, don't under estimate how much the proper outfits charge for asbestos removal, I did on a 1950's place I had asbestos garage roof and soffits and facias and other bits, already looking at circa £40k to sort.

[ukessex09]

The seller is saying they won't reduce the price.

They are happy for independent survey done.

Please advise how should we proceed

[Lotobear]

Have it tested.

My guess is it won't contain any asbestos. If it does then you need to re evaluate in the light of that information.

[PostHeads123]

ukessex09 said:

The seller is saying they won't reduce the price.

They are happy for independent survey done.

Please advise how should we proceed

Ok my fault for not reading it fully sorry, I would have it tested, IF it is asbestos then get a separate asbestos survey done as typically if a house has 1 asbestos product in will probably have more, for example mine had garage roof but also turned out the sofits / facia were also it (though sellers had caped it in UPVC so it was only spotted after completion), some stuff in my fire place was also it and some flooring and other bits. My original surveyor never mentioned an asbestos survey so I didn't even know they existed until too late.

If seller wont budge on price I would walk.

[SAB888]

Lotobear said:

Have it tested.

My guess is it won't contain any asbestos. If it does then you need to re evaluate in the light of that information.

Yes, easiest way forward is to get a sample tested and proceed from there. I think it's about £50 to get something tested. There are different types of asbestos which (if present) could affect the cost of removal.

I'd also like to know how it would be possible to refelt a roof from inside.

[megaphone]

Surveyor just covering themselves re the asbestos in the roof felt, if you're worried then get it tested. Surveys often pick up on old roofs, when I had my survey done in 1996 they commented on the poor state of the roof, it's still the same roof today. No roofing felt at all under my tiles.

[ukessex09]

i have now posted the photo of roof

[ukessex09]

do u think it is abestos.

i am trying to arrange somebody to take look next week for test

[Ashtray83]

I would be confident in saying nothing unusual about that, looks like standard old bitumen underfelt

[Eddieslofart]

It is, bitumen papered underlay.

[ukessex09]

Thanks please could you advise if I should. Cancel
The asbestos survey.

[Ashtray83]

Yeah don't bother wasting your money on testing

[Simpo Two]

'Possibly' and 'may'. Back-covering in C21 OMG all-going-to-die culture.

Apply common sense and carry on.

[ukessex09]

Did not understand do u mean to do the testing or not?

[bazjude2998]

Don’t think this forum should advise you to cancel the asbestos survey or any other.Buying a property is a major decision and only you can make that final call.Sometimes you just have to walk away if there are major issues.You have probably already made your mind up and just want reassurance.Dont lose your dream house for the sake of a few grand if that’s what it is but try and use any issues as a bargaining tool .Always remember the seller wonts rid otherwise it wouldn’t be up for grabs.Good luck

[ukessex09]

I have been told my roofer now that he can underpin breathable membrane felt between rafters to main roof area to repair the broken felt as fix for now

[bazjude2998]

Fixing membrane/ roof felt below rafters won’t keep water out .Waste of money