Family’s fury at home sold with asbestos

HOMEOWNERS are warning potential buyers to have a full structural survey — after finding their houses were riddled with asbestos.

Philip Edgehill (36), who lives with his mum Hyacinth (74) in Kirkfell Walk, paid for a homebuyer & valuation survey in 2005, but was shocked to be told last week that there was asbestos in the gas cupboard, by the front door and in his outside bedroom wall.

He is furious that he only received a letter from First Choice Homes (FCH) letter last week informing him about the problem.

Mr Edgehill is now warning other householders that they need a full structural survey after finding he now has to pay for its removal.

He said: “I’ve got a letter from FCH saying not to go in the gas cupboard as we might disturb asbestos in there — but we’ve been going in it for years. Having it removed will be very expensive for me but tenants are having the work done for free.

“While I should have had the full survey, they should have told us about the extent of the problem before we bought the house.”

Stacey Lord, who bought her Scafell Close home last year, said: “I knew there was some asbestos in the outside walls but I didn’t know it was in my kitchen or where else it was inside.

“Even though FCH removed my asbestos for free — which they disturbed during electrical work, they’re ripping people off.

“People would think twice about buying a house if they knew how much asbestos was in it.”

A spokesman from FCH said the company had always advised potential buyers in the Right to Buy scheme to obtain an independent structural survey.

He said: “Like any seller of a home, we can only inform the buyer of any latent defects.

Asbestos being present is not a latent defect, in fact it is quite common in properties of this age. Damaged asbestos would be a latent defect, and if we were aware of any we would advise the buyer.”

He added that any homeowners who bought their homes before the electrical works in 2008 would not have had any damaged asbestos present.

He added: “There are a small number of home owners who bought their homes after the improvement works, and in some cases the asbestos in their meter cupboards was disturbed.

As a result, FCHO has committed to removing this asbestos, as we have with our own tenants on the estate.

“We appreciate people will opt for the valuation survey as it is less expensive. However, this incident has highlighted the benefits of having a full structural survey.”




FCH’s asbestos team is currently carrying out free surveys in the Higginshaw area — call 0161-770 8863 to book.