If your home was built or renovated before 1990, it likely contains asbestos.
Before you start any work
Check for asbestos before doing any repairs, maintenance or renovations, even something as small as drilling into a wall. Arrange a professional assessment or assume asbestos is present and take precautions.
If asbestos is in your home
Don’t disturb it. Don’t drill, sand, cut or use high-pressure water on materials that may contain asbestos. Don’t assume it’s safe just because it looks intact. The binding materials degrade over time, and visual inspection alone isn’t reliable.
If it needs removing
Use a licensed asbestos removalist. Your builder, electrician or plumber generally isn’t licensed to remove asbestos, and the law heavily restricts what they can do.
When you hire a contractor
Under Victorian law, the moment you engage someone to work on your home, it becomes a workplace. Your contractor must comply with OHS laws, including identifying asbestos before starting work. Ask them how they’ll manage any asbestos they encounter.
Disposal
All asbestos waste must go to a place that is authorised to receive it. Don't bury, dump, or put asbestos waste it in skips or household bins.
Insurance
Check your home and contents policy: many exclude asbestos. The safest way to protect yourself financially is to have asbestos professionally identified and removed before starting work.
Selling or renting your property
There’s no legal requirement in Victoria to proactively disclose asbestos when selling a home. Under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021, rental providers must disclose asbestos that’s been identified by a qualified person. Providing information about known asbestos helps protect occupants.