Should I check for asbestos before I purchase a new home?

It is advisable to have any house inspected before you buy it. If the house was built before 1980, make sure that the inspector checks for asbestos. Any suspect materials should be sampled and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

If asbestos is found, you should talk to the seller about what action will be taken and who is going to pay for any abatement activities.

NOTE: Some states have disclosure laws which require sellers, and in some cases real estate agents, to tell buyers about any known defects in the house. Asbestos is included on most disclosure forms.

What if I live in an apartment or condominium?

Generally, the home or building owner is responsible for dealing with asbestos in a dwelling. However, rules and levels of protection for renters vary between states and between counties or towns. Contact your local health and licenses and inspections departments and tenant-landlord groups for more information.

If you own a condominium, check your purchase agreement and with the building management and condominium board to find out what your rights and responsibilities are.

If I discover that there is asbestos in my home, how do I know if it poses a health hazard?

After the laboratory analysis confirms the presence of asbestos in your home, it is necessary to assess the degree of hazard it presents. Asbestos is only hazardous when fibers are likely to be released into the air and inhaled or ingested.

You cannot assess whether asbestos in your home poses a hazard simply by looking at the condition of the material. The location of the material in your home, how you use the area around the material, and the likelihood of future damage to the material are all factors in assessing the hazard of asbestos exposure.

The best way to determine whether the asbestos in your home poses a hazard is to consult with an asbestos professional. The asbestos professional can tell you whether an asbestos hazard is present, the extent of the hazard, and can make recommendations on what you can do about it.

Just because asbestos-containing materials are in good condition today, does not mean that they always will be. Any asbestos material should be checked on a regular basis so that if the condition of the material changes, appropriate action can be taken quickly to reduce or prevent asbestos fibers from being released into the air.