Asbestos surveys are essential to the asbestos management process, and as such, their cost varies depending on a few conditions. Many people searching for an asbestos surveyor have difficulty finding an accurate price quote because of these circumstances. In this guide, you’ll learn about asbestos survey cost, where it might be located in your home, how to get a report and what to do if asbestos is found.
How much does a Domestic Asbestos Survey cost?
£150
LOW COST
£400
HIGH COST
£250
AVG COST
The average cost for an Asbestos Survey is £250. You are likely to spend between £150 and £400 in total.
The exact price may vary depending on your area and project details.
Next Step: Find out exactly how much your project will cost.
£150
LOW COST
£400
HIGH COST
£250
AVG COST
The average cost for an Asbestos Survey is £250. You are likely to spend between £150 and £400 in total.
The exact price may vary depending on your area and project details.
How Much Does An Asbestos Survey Cost
There is no one answer to the question “how much does an asbestos survey cost?” Various factors must be considered when pricing an asbestos survey, including but not limited to the size of the property, the age of the property, whether there are floor plans available, what health and safety considerations exist, and the purpose of the survey (asbestos management, before refurbishment or demolition).
The average cost of an asbestos survey is dependent on how long it takes to completely inspect a building. For example, while a smaller residential property like a 2-3 bedroom house may only cost 250 pounds for an asbestos survey, a commercial property could be around £325. Based on the table below, asbestos survey prices vary depending on the type of survey and the size of the property.
Management survey for 2-3 bedroom property | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range- Low | Average Cost | Range High | |||
£150 | £350 | £250 | |||
Management survey of shop with flat above | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range- Low | Average Cost | Range High | |||
£250 | £400 | £325 | |||
Management survey of commercial property | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range- Low | Average Cost | Range High | |||
£200 | £600 | £400 | |||
Demolition or refurbishment survey of properties listed above | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range- Low | Average Cost | Range High | |||
£300 | £400 | £350 | |||
There are many things to consider when hiring an asbestos professional, but making sure your home is free from dangerous asbestos materials should be at the top of the list.
Different Types of Asbestos Surveys and Costs
The two most common types of asbestos surveys are asbestos management reports and refurbishment/demolition reports. Residential householders can obtain management asbestos reports to find out whether they have asbestos in the home.
The refurbishment and demolition report is the second type of survey. As its name suggests, if you need asbestos removed or plan to demolish a building, this is the right report for you. Let’s explore both types of asbestos surveys in more depth.
Asbestos Management Survey
This involves a standard property inspection carried out by a qualified asbestos surveyor. Although they will only be using their eyesight and minimal tools or equipment, these professionals are nevertheless expertly trained to spot the tell-tale signs of asbestos in all corners of your home basement and attics included. Those responsible for maintaining non-domestic buildings are classed as Duty Holders and are legally obliged to maintain asbestos materials, they must hire a qualified asbestos surveyor to carry out an asbestos management survey and take any necessary steps to remove or maintain asbestos based on the survey findings.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition survey (R&N Asbestos Survey)
This survey should be carried out if you suspect your property may contain asbestos and are planning to carry out refurbishment work. The surveyor will check whether there are any asbestos materials present that needs to be safely removed by a professional during the course of the refurbishment work.
Prices for both types of the survey will vary depending on where you live, the size of the property, and what contractor you ultimately choose – expect to pay around £250 for a proper asbestos survey.
After an R&D survey, you may need to have asbestos-containing materials removed. These types of works usually need to be completed by a company that is licensed by the Health & Safety Executive.
Removing asbestos can be expensive and often requires a professional. You can read all about the cost of removing asbestos in our guide.
Factors that Influence the Cost of an Asbestos Survey
Asbestos surveys can vary greatly in cost, depending on several factors. The size and location of the property, as well as the type of asbestos survey required, will all play a role in determining the price. The quote you receive will depend on numerous factors, including:
Size of your Property
The price you pay for an asbestos survey will largely depend on the size of your property. But, it’s often not the square footage that matters most — rather, it’s generally the number of rooms in a house or building.
If a home has more than five bedrooms or if a building, such as a hospital, contains numerous rooms, it will take longer to inspect because each room needs to be examined singularly.
Age of Your House or Flat
Houses and flats built before 1999 are likely to contain asbestos, as it was banned that year. The use of asbestos in construction plummeted after 1999, but there is still a small chance you could find the harmful material in buildings erected around that time or in subsequent years.
Therefore, newer properties built after or close to 1999 will require fewer samples, while older properties built in the 1960s or ’70s will need extensive asbestos surveys.
Ease of Access
Just like other surveys, the overall asbestos survey cost is affected by how easy or difficult it is for the contractor to get onto the property. For example, if it’s a commercial building with security restrictions, then giving details about access in advance is crucial.
It is important to provide access details in advance if the property has security restrictions. This will help to ensure that the overall asbestos survey cost is not affected.
Keep in mind, comprehensive asbestos surveys will necessitate all property occupants to leave the area during the duration of the survey. If you are unable to vacate the premises, schedule your survey for a time when you’re certain no one will be present.
Does the Asbestos Report Cost Include Laboratory Fees?
Most companies will incorporate lab fees into an asbestos survey cost estimation. If you’re willing to pay more, many surveyors also offer a fast-track service.
Where Should Samples be Taken From in My Home?
Asbestos sampling is typically done in the following places:
- From the vicinity of asbestos-containing materials (textured coating on a wall or ceiling, vinyl floor tile)
- From ventilation openings
- From an insulation board
When carrying out a survey, the asbestos professional will probably take one or more ‘extracts’ from various rooms in the property and take them back to an approved lab for chemical testing, that way you will be 100% certain about the level of asbestos in your home. The cost of taking samples is normally incorporated into the survey price, artisansurveyors.co.uk charge the following (on top of the normal survey price):
HOME ASBESTOS SAMPLING KIT (NUMBER OF SAMPLES) ESTIMATED COST | HOME ASBESTOS SAMPLING KIT (NUMBER OF SAMPLES) ESTIMATED COST | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Remember, these prices are just estimates; the cost of asbestos survey varies depending on your requirements. For a more accurate quote based on the size of your property and the number of samples you want to be tested, you should get quotes from at least three local asbestos surveyors.
What Happens During an Asbestos Survey?
During the survey, the surveyor will:
- Walk through your property to identify any access problems.
- Check that their plans are correct.
- Begin collecting samples from certain parts of the property.
They may also conduct one or more tests from the following list:
Asbestos testing
Asbestos testing is carried out in an Asbestos survey and can be done on suspected Asbestos-containing material individually for the identification of asbestos. The asbestos samples are sent to a UK AS-approved laboratory for a comprehensive test so that we can give the results back to you immediately after completing the project. NASUK Asbestos Surveys offers samples of the asbestos to UKAS-accredited labs. The asbestos tests are completed to the highest standards according to the HSG264 Asbestos Survey guide.
Reassurance Air Testing
The purpose of this test is to determine whether asbestos fibers are present in the air.
Background Testing
A certified surveyor will administer this test if any refurbishment/demolition is projected to take place. They do the test beforehand to ensure inspection of asbestos levels and safety standards are met.
Personal Air Testing
Personal air testing is conducted by surveyors when tradesmen are working in a building where asbestos may be present. The test checks the levels of asbestos, how well the control measures are working, and provides data for medical surveillance.
What Insights Will the Survey Report Give Me?
The report will include your location, the plans of your property, and information about where you have asbestos and whether or not it needs to be removed. It will then provide advice about what to do next.
The report will not only include the results of analyzed samples but also any photographs taken on-site.
Frequently Asked Questions on Asbestos Survey
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate material that was once widely used in the building industry in the UK – so if your home was built before the year 2000, you might very well have it hiding somewhere in your property. If left securely sealed, asbestos doesn’t actually do much harm, but once small fibers become loose and are released into the atmosphere, you’re at risk of contracting a number of different airborne diseases, including pleurisy, lung cancer, and mesothelioma – a particularly damaging type of lung cancer that scars organ tissue and can lead to multiple organ failure.
How Much Does a Home Asbestos Survey Cost?
On average, a standard-size home generally costs £250 for a basic asbestos survey. To get an accurate quote from the surveyor, we recommend that you provide as much information about your property as possible.
To put your mind at rest, your best bet is to have an asbestos survey conducted on your property as soon as possible. Such a survey is also legally compulsory if you are responsible for the management of a non-domestic property that may contain asbestos.
How do I know if I need an asbestos survey?
When the building of an unincorporated building occurred prior to 2000 it is legal to conduct an asbestos survey. This duty is regulated under the Asbestos Act 2012. A manager’s survey should identify potential sources of ACM.
Which Type of Asbestos Survey do I Need?
The Asbestos survey you need will depend on several factors, including if you are scheduled to do refurbishment/demolition work or if your asbestos check is required for selling or renting the property.
Do I need an asbestos survey to let a commercial property?
The fact that asbestos is present at the property is certainly vital in the event that you purchase a property. There must therefore be a requisite risk assessment. A risk assessment can often be done by conducting asbestos surveys.
