According to the English Housing Survey 2014 to 2015, approximately 76% of houses in England were built before 1980. Almost 18 million houses were constructed when asbestos was widely used and it can still be found in many construction products. Due to landlord negligence or unawareness, asbestos in old homes are sometimes not properly monitored or it’s even disturbed.
With the UK having allowed for asbestos to be used until 1999, buildings constructed before 2000 have a high probability of containing materials and products that are made from asbestos.
What is Asbestos and Where Can You Find It?
According to the British Lung Foundation, “asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. If you breathe in these fibres, they can damage your lungs.” Only when asbestos is disturbed or damaged do small asbestos fibres get released into the air and inhaled. There are six different types of asbestos:
- Chrysotile. A type of white asbestos that is utilised in buildings, and not the most hazardous type.
- Amosite. This type of brown asbestos is typically found in cement and insulation.
- Actinolite. Varying from green to brown, this type isn’t typically present in commercial properties.
- Anthophyllite. This asbestos is brown-grey, typically utilised in lino and floor tiles.
- Tremolite. Used in roofing materials and paint, this type of asbestos has a variety of colours.
- Crocidolite. One of the most dangerous asbestos, it’s recognisable due to its blue colour.
Previously used for its great sound absorption, physical properties, lack of electrical conductivity, and resistance to both heat and fire, asbestos was one of the industrial age’s favourite construction materials and used for its high tensile strength. In addition, asbestos could be mined in large quantities due to being cheap.
Old houses typically contain asbestos in some form all around, which can be commonly found in certain areas of the property, such as pipes, ducts, and other plumbing, insulation materials, boilers, electrical insulation and electrical wiring, and interior walls.
The Dangers of Asbestos
- Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure will look the same lung cancer from other reasons, like smoking.
- Affecting the lungs’ lining (the pleura) and affecting the lining that surrounds the lower digestive tract (the peritoneum), mesothelioma is a cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos. It tends to be fatal when diagnosed.
- Pleural thickening tends to occur after a heavy asbestos exposure, with lungs’ lining (the pleura) thickening and swelling. In advanced situations, the lungs can be squeezed and cause shortness of breath.
- Inhaling asbestos can cause severe scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis, tends to occur after a serious exposure over many years. Progressive shortness of breath is expected, with some cases being fatal.
Landlord Negligence and Making a Claim
Landlords and property owners of residential properties have a duty to manage asbestos alongside maintaining the property. This duty to manage involves making sure everyone is safe, and not removing asbestos. As it’s only dangerous when disturbed, it doesn’t pose a risk should the property be well-maintained and in good condition. Your landlord is responsible for:
- Knowing whether the property has asbestos.
- Where the asbestos is and what type it is and keeping a record.
- Managing and monitoring the asbestos to ensure it poses no danger to anyone
- Should there be planned work, your landlord needs to assess any and all risks involved.
- Divulging information to anyone pertinent to working or being exposed by asbestos.
Additionally, your landlord is also responsible for notifying relevant authorities should the asbestos products be worn or damaged, seek licensed asbestos removal companies, and ensuring all safety procedures are followed.
If you believe you have been affected or you know someone who was exposed to asbestos and developed an illness, you may be owed compensation. A personal injury claim is typically required to be made within three years since the diagnosis of the asbestos or of a related illness was made.
The compensation you may receive is usually calculated according to other similar claims payouts. Make sure to contact us today on 01772 562084 to know more about making a claim and to know about our No Win, No Fee policy.