Asbestos survey

[attic reptile]

I am hoping to sell my property to property developers for several flat conversions, I have been told by the estate agents that in addition to the EPC I will have to have an asbestos survey done on the property before selling.. Am I responsible for this or is it the developers responsibility?

[midlandslandlord]

I am hoping to sell my property to property developers for several flat conversions, I have been told by the estate agents that in addition to the EPC I will have to have an asbestos survey done on the property before selling.. Am I responsible for this or is it the developers responsibility?

Check with the HSE what your responsibilities are:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/

ML

[mk1fan]

Assuming this is the sale of a domestic property. The fact that a developer is buying for commercial reasons doesn't burden you with commercial responsibilities / liabilities.

That said, any competant developer will know what they need to do to complete the development. Anyhting that they need to get done - like an asbestos survey, or gain planning consent - they will use in the negociation to drive the price down.

The estate agent is wrong.

If it the sale of a commercial property then there should already be an asbestos register in place (assuming it's in E&W). If you haven't then you'll need to get one done.

[quarterday]

If there are common areas the lessor is supposed to assess the risk of "ACM" (asbestos containing material) in any such common parts. Relatively modern, ie post war blocks, will, perhaps surprisingly have asbestos containing materials in flooring glues, in fuse boxes, in damp proof courses, pipe lagging/ centralised boiler areas and flues, and possibly in certain types of now disused ceiling tiles, roofs of garages, and even soffits. The liability is to manage the risk; rather than necessarily remove or encapsulate.

There is no obligation for the lessor to enter into any flat sold off to survey.

The cost of these surveys is usually recoverable under service charges

[mk1fan]

You may have mis-read the OP.

I read it to be that they are selling a whole property (currently a single demise) to a developer who intends to turn it into flats.