It is one of the most common questions we are asked. You have found what looks like asbestos in your property, you want it gone, and you are wondering whether you can just deal with it yourself. The short answer is no, and understanding why could save you from a serious legal and health mistake.
Is It Illegal to Remove Asbestos Yourself?
It depends on the material. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 divides asbestos removal work into categories: licensed, notifiable non-licensed (NNLW), and non-licensed.
For licensed work – which covers high-risk materials like pipe lagging and loose-fill insulation – removal must be carried out by a contractor holding a full HSE asbestos removal licence. No exceptions.
For non-licensed and notifiable non-licensed work, which covers the majority of domestic asbestos jobs including garage roof sheets, floor tiles, Artex ceilings, and cement panels, a licence is not legally required. However, the work must still be carried out by a UKATA-trained operative following approved HSE procedures.
Attempting it without the correct training, equipment, and controls is not a permissible removal method under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Why Is DIY Asbestos Removal So Dangerous?
The risk with asbestos is not from the material itself when it is intact and undisturbed. The risk comes from disturbing it. Cutting, breaking, drilling, scraping, or sanding asbestos-containing materials releases respirable asbestos fibres into the air.
When an untrained person attempts to remove asbestos-containing materials, particularly something like a garage roof where sheets may crack or fragment during handling, they are exposing themselves, their family, and anyone nearby to fibres they cannot see.
What About Disposal?
Even if you were to remove asbestos-containing material without releasing fibres, the disposal problem remains.
Asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. You cannot put it in a skip. You cannot take it to a Surrey recycling centre. You cannot bag it and leave it for general waste collection. It must be transported by a registered upper-tier waste carrier to an HSE-approved licensed disposal facility.
Attempting to dispose of asbestos waste through unlicensed channels carries serious legal risk.
What Is the Right Approach?
The right approach is a free professional survey followed by a fixed written quote from a UKATA-trained contractor.
At Surrey Environmental Services, we carry out free same-week surveys across Surrey and South West London. We assess the material, confirm whether it contains asbestos, and tell you exactly what is involved in removing it safely before you commit to anything. You will receive a fixed written quote within 48 hours of the survey, and the price will not change once confirmed.
Every job includes licensed disposal and a consignment note on completion. That consignment note is the legally required document confirming your waste has been handled correctly under the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.
If you have found a suspect material and you are tempted to deal with it yourself, the free survey is the right first step. It costs nothing and gives you all the information you need to make the right decision.
The Bottom Line
DIY asbestos removal is not worth the risk. The regulations exist because the consequences of getting it wrong are severe. A professional survey and controlled removal by a UKATA-trained operative is the only approach that protects you, your family, and your property.
