Don’t delay, register for free loose-fill asbestos sample testing of your home
By Glen Lollback – Solicitor-Director / Accredited Property Law Specialist
27 July 2016
Commins Hendriks Solicitors warns that Riverina residents who don’t register for free sample testing for loose-fill asbestos in their pre-1980 properties by the deadline could miss out on the financial assistance and support options being offered by the New South Wales Government.
The deadline is this coming Monday, 1 August 2016.
Commins Hendriks Accredited Property Law Specialist Glen Lollback says the NSW Department of Fair Trading sent out letters to most householders in the region recently about the assistance being offered by the Government to homeowners affected by loose-fill asbestos.
“If your home was built before 1980, you can register with the NSW Government for a free sample test of the insulation in your home to find out if it is affected by loose-fill asbestos,” Mr Lollback said.
“Owners of houses confirmed by that testing to contain loose-fill asbestos are eligible to participate in a program involving the purchase and demolition of their houses by the NSW Government.
“While this is an excellent initiative, what needs to be highlighted is that unless home owners register for testing by 1 August 2015, they won’t be eligible for the purchase and demolition program.”
Many centres in the Riverina have been identified by the Government as having the potential to contain loose-fill asbestos, which was installed as insulation in residential properties during the 1960s and 1970s.
In its letter to residents, NSW Fair Trading indicated the Government is considering new laws with the aim of protecting potential buyers from “unknowingly purchasing a property that contains loose-fill asbestos”.
Under the options being examined, vendors would be required to confirm in a contract of sale the property’s loose-fill asbestos status, and all contracts of sale would include a warning notice alerting purchasers about the potential for pre-1980s homes to contain loose-fill asbestos.
“It is vital that you act now if you think there’s any chance at all of your home being found to contain loose-fill asbestos, you should register for the testing by 1 August,” Mr Lollback.
“If you don’t register for the sample testing by that deadline, you won’t be eligible for the program of purchase and demolition and the substantial benefits the program.”
To register, call 13 77 88 or go to www.loosefillasbestos.nsw.gov.au and click on Register for a free sample test.