Is asbestos still found in Wirral council or ex-local authority properties?

• Asbestos was used in council and social housing across the UK until the late 1990s.
• Wirral Council has management plans and contracts in place to control asbestos in its buildings.
• Asbestos is usually safe if it is in good condition and not disturbed.
• Common locations include boiler cupboards, service ducts, artex, floor tiles and communal areas.
• Fibre Safe can survey ex-local authority homes on the Wirral so owners and landlords know exactly what is present.

Like many parts of the UK, the Wirral has a large stock of council and former council housing built during the decades when asbestos-containing materials were routinely used. Although asbestos is now banned, existing materials are not automatically removed if they are in good condition; instead they are monitored and managed under an asbestos management plan.

In Wirral council or ex-local authority properties, asbestos may be present in areas such as:

• Old warm-air heating cupboards and boiler rooms.
• Ceiling and wall panels, particularly in hallways and service ducts.
• Textured coatings (artex-type finishes) on ceilings.
• Floor tiles, backing materials and bitumen adhesives.
• Outbuildings, sheds and garage roofs made from asbestos cement.

Wirral Council publishes guidance for residents on asbestos and has contracts in place for removal and encapsulation where necessary, but responsibility also sits with landlords and dutyholders to manage asbestos safely in homes and communal areas.

If you own or are buying an ex-local authority property on the Wirral, an asbestos survey from Fibre Safe will identify any asbestos-containing materials and set out practical recommendations for safe management or removal.