Citizen Housing Group Limited (202508483)

Background

1. As part of planned works to the resident’s kitchen, the landlord carried out an asbestos survey. Following this it informed the resident that there was asbestos in the kitchen cupboard. The resident complained to the landlord, explaining that she had lived in her home for many years and that she felt it should have told her that there was asbestos in the cupboard before. In particular, she felt it should have informed her when she contacted it to ask whether she could put shelving in the cupboard.

What the complaint is about

2. The complaint is about the resident’s concern that the landlord did not inform her there was asbestos in her kitchen cupboard.

Our decision (determination)

3. There was no maladministration in the landlord’s handling of the resident’s concern that it did not inform her there was asbestos in her kitchen cupboard.

Reasons

4. Landlords have a legal obligation to manage asbestos in their properties and to ensure properties are safe for human habitation. However, there is no prescribed timeframe relating to identification of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) and/or notification of residents. The landlord’s asbestos policy says that it identifies whether its properties contain asbestos through targeted surveys when it carries out planned works.
5. In this case, the evidence demonstrates that the landlord carried out an asbestos survey before it started the planned kitchen works. Itinformed the resident that there was asbestos in the kitchen cupboard when the survey was completed.It therefore provided her with reasonable and timely advice.It then carried out the relevant works to the asbestos.
6. The landlord’s actions were reasonable, appropriate, and in line with its policy. There is no evidence to suggest that it gave permission to the resident to carry out any intrusive works in the kitchen cupboard prior to this.