Buying, Selling or Renting an Older Home with Asbestos
What to check before you buy, sell or rent.
Reply within 30 minutes.
The short answer
If a home was built or renovated before 1990, it may contain asbestos,
and only a lab test confirms it.
Check the section 10.7 planning certificate for the loose-fill register,
and book an inspection before settlement if you are unsure.
In a rental, managing asbestos is the owner's job.
Buying: before you sign
Show the 4 point checklist
- Read the section 10.7 planning certificate in the contract. Homes on the loose-fill asbestos insulation register are disclosed there.
- Agents must tell buyers if a home is on the register.
- If the home was built or renovated before 1990, it may contain asbestos. Only a lab test confirms it.
- Book an inspection with a written report before your cooling off or finance date so you can price any removal into the deal.
Selling: before you list
Show the 3 point checklist
- Loose-fill register status appears on the section 10.7 certificate in your contract.
- If you know asbestos was removed, keep the clearance certificate and disposal paperwork handy. Buyers and agents ask.
- Test anything you plan to fix up before sale. A clear result is worth having in writing.
Renting: landlords and tenants
Show the 3 point checklist
- The owner is responsible for managing asbestos in a rental property.
- Landlords must tell tenants if the home is on the loose-fill register.
- Tenants: report damaged or crumbling material to your landlord or agent. Do not drill or repair it yourself.
What a pre-purchase inspection costs
An inspection with a written report starts from around $250 inc GST,
plus around $110 for each lab sample.
The report lists what may contain asbestos, its condition,
and the likely cost of dealing with it.
Guide only, inc GST. Your firm price is set in writing once we have seen the job.
How asbestos removal works
1.Quick chat
Tell us what you have found and where.
We ask a few plain questions and tell you straight away whether it can wait.
2.Testing if needed
If nobody knows what the material is, we take a small sample,
seal it and send it to an accredited lab. Only a lab test confirms asbestos.
3.Fixed quote
You get one written price that covers the removal, wrapping and disposal.
No surprise extras once the job starts.
4.Neighbours given notice
Before work starts we let the people next door know what is happening, when,
and how long it will take.
5.SafeWork NSW notified
For licensed removal,
SafeWork NSW is notified 5 calendar days before work starts,
as the rules require.
6.Removal
The area is sealed off,
sheets come out whole where possible and are kept damp,
then double wrapped on the spot.
7.Independent clearance
Someone independent of the removal crew inspects the area before you use it
again, and you get the clearance paperwork.
8.Licensed disposal
Waste goes to a licensed facility and you receive the disposal paperwork for
your records.
Questions from buyers, sellers and renters
I'm buying a 1950s home. Should I test first?
It is a sensible step.
Homes built or renovated before 1990 may contain asbestos,
and only a lab test confirms it.
An inspection with a written report before you settle tells you what is there,
what condition it is in, and what it might cost to deal with,
so the numbers go into your decision rather than arriving after it.
How do I know if a house is on the loose-fill register?
Homes on the NSW loose-fill asbestos insulation register are disclosed on the
section 10.7 planning certificate that comes with the sale contract.
Agents must tell buyers and landlords must tell tenants.
Who pays to deal with asbestos in a rental?
The owner is responsible for managing asbestos in a rental property.
Tenants should report damaged material to their landlord or agent rather than
touching it.
Can I remove asbestos myself at all?
Without a licence,
a person can remove up to 10 m² of bonded asbestos in total for the job.
SafeWork NSW recommends using a licensed removalist for any amount,
and homeowners must never remove friable asbestos.
If you are unsure which type you have, assume you need help.
What does a clearance certificate cover?
It confirms the work area is safe to use again. After Class A work,
an independent licensed asbestos assessor does the clearance and air
monitoring is required. After Class B work,
an independent competent person or licensed assessor does it.
Either way, it happens before the area is used again.
Book a pre-purchase asbestos inspection
We will be in touch within 30 minutes. If it can wait, we will say so.
If it should not be touched, we will tell you what to do in the meantime.
- No photo upload needed. Just describe it.
- Your details are used only to answer you.