Free guidance from HSE, GOV.UK and the NHS
Official Asbestos Guidance
The official sources our pages are based on. They are free to read and download.
For homeowners
HSE asbestos FAQsIncludes a section for members of the public: what to do if you think you have asbestos at home.Where asbestos may be foundHSE diagrams of homes and other buildings showing where asbestos was used.Locations of asbestos, with photosWhat common asbestos materials look like and who can work on them.Asbestos in your home (GOV.UK)Find your council for local advice and disposal (England and Wales).
Surveys, testing and choosing a contractor
Asbestos: The survey guide (HSG264)HSE's guide to management and refurbishment or demolition surveys.Sourcing analysts and surveyorsHSE on accreditation and where to find UKAS-accredited organisations.Licensable work with asbestosWhich work needs an HSE-licensed contractor, with HSE's link to the current licence-holder list.Non-licensed and notifiable non-licensed workLower-risk work, and the extra rules for notifiable work.
Landlords, managing agents and businesses
The duty to manage asbestosStep-by-step HSE guidance for dutyholders of non-domestic premises and common parts.Managing and working with asbestos (L143)The Approved Code of Practice for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.Asbestos essentials task sheetsHow trained workers should carry out non-licensed tasks safely.Disposal of asbestos waste (EM9)HSE's sheet on packaging and disposing of asbestos waste.
Health
Links checked September 2026. These are external sites; we are not responsible for their content.
More asbestos guidance
What is asbestos?Types of asbestos and where it was used in UK buildingsIdentifying asbestos and staying safeWhy you can't tell by looking, and what to do if something is damagedAsbestos health risksThe diseases asbestos can cause and when to speak to a doctorAsbestos surveysManagement and refurbishment and demolition surveys explainedTesting and samplingHow samples are taken and analysedProfessional removalLicensed and non-licensed work, and what to expect