Asbestos checks when buying a house in Toowoomba

Asbestos checks when buying a house in Toowoomba are worth doing before you sign, not after. Toowoomba has plenty of older homes, and a house built before 1990 is likely to contain some asbestos. That is not a reason to walk away. It is a reason to know what you are buying.

This guide covers what to look at, what to ask, and when a test is worth the effort.

Start with the year it was built

The Queensland Government's rule of thumb is that homes built before 1990 are likely to contain some asbestos, and across Australia an estimated one in three homes has some. Toowoomba is known for traditional Queenslander and Victorian-era architecture, so many homes here fall into the older group.

Ask the agent for the build year and for any renovation dates. Later additions may be newer than the original house, and an older shed or garage can be a different age again.

Questions to ask the seller

You can ask before you make an offer or during your enquiries:

• Has the house had an asbestos inspection or report? Can we see it?
• Has any asbestos been removed? If so, by whom?
• Is there a clearance certificate for that removal?
• Which parts of the house are fibro or sheeted?
• Has anything been drilled, cut or sanded recently?

A licensed removal in Queensland ends with a written clearance certificate, so a past job should have one. If it does not, that is worth asking about.

What to look for on an inspection

Walk around with the list in the guide on where asbestos is found in Queensland homes. Check:

• roof sheeting, eaves, gables and wall cladding
• wet areas such as the bathroom, laundry and kitchen
• the meter box and switchboard
• fences, sheds and carports
• floor coverings, especially old vinyl

Note whether materials are in good condition or cracked, weathered or damaged. Well-maintained asbestos cement is generally not a risk unless disturbed, but damaged material is a warning sign. Do not touch, scrape or drill anything.

Is a test worth doing?

We have not found a rule that requires an asbestos inspection before buying a home, so it is your decision. Testing is worth considering if you plan to renovate, strip out or demolish after settlement, or if something looks damaged.

Sampling disturbs the material, so you need the owner's permission first. Our asbestos testing service in Toowoomba covers sampling and lab analysis. The guide on how asbestos samples are tested explains what to expect.

Rules change, so check current guidance at asbestos.qld.gov.au.

What about removal costs?

We do not quote prices on this page. If the house has damaged sheeting or you plan work that disturbs it, ask us for advice before you finalise your budget. If you are weighing up older houses in different parts of the city, our page on asbestos removal across Toowoomba suburbs lists the areas we work in.

Buying a commercial building

If you are buying a workplace built before 31 December 1989, the person managing the workplace must keep an asbestos register. Ask to see it. The register must be reviewed at least every five years, or earlier if asbestos is disturbed, removed or sealed. Demolition, refurbishment and maintenance contractors must be given a copy before work starts.

Strata bodies corporate with no employees are excluded from the register duty, so a strata property may not have one.

Work out the next step

Call (07) 3185 2323 if you are weighing up a house and want to talk through what you have seen. We will say honestly whether testing makes sense.