HomeGuidesDoes My House Have Asbestos?
Does my house have asbestos?
If your house was built or renovated before 1990, it probably has some. The Victorian Asbestos Hub's guidance is that buildings from before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos. The use and import of asbestos were banned nationally from 31 December 2003. The question isn't usually whether, but where, and whether it will be disturbed.
Updated · Sources listed at the foot of this page
Start with the build year
| Built or renovated | Likelihood of asbestos |
|---|---|
| Before the mid-1980s | Highly likely |
| Mid-1980s to 1990 | May contain |
| After 1990 | Unlikely, though later renovations can reuse older materials |
Renovations count. A 1990s house with a 1970s garage, or a goldfields cottage with a 1960s bathroom, can have asbestos in the older part.
Then the house type
- Post-war fibro or weatherboard (Kangaroo Flat, Golden Square, Eaglehawk, Long Gully): fibro walls, eaves, wet areas, roof, fence.
- 1960s–80s brick veneer (Flora Hill, Kennington, Strathfieldsaye): eaves, wet areas, vinyl floors, textured ceilings.
- Goldfields-era cottage with additions (central Bendigo, Castlemaine, Heathcote): the lean-to, sleep-out or rear bathroom, flues and heater surrounds.
- Farmhouse or rural block: shed and garage roofs, outbuildings, fences.
The places to check
Walk around with this list, looking but not touching:
- Eaves under the roof overhang
- Bathroom, laundry and kitchen walls behind tiles
- Ceilings, especially textured or popcorn finishes
- Floors under carpet or floating boards, for old vinyl
- External walls, especially flat sheet with cover strips
- Roof, gutters, downpipes and flues
- The meter box and electrical cupboard
- Sheds, garages and fences
See asbestos materials in Bendigo homes for how to recognise each one.
Confirm with testing
You can't tell by looking. For one material, a single sample analysed by an accredited lab answers the question. For the whole house, before a renovation or purchase, a property inspection records every suspect material with photos and lab results.
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Call 03 4443 5430Asbestos in your house: common questions
Is it dangerous to live in a house with asbestos?
Material that's intact and left alone releases very few fibres. Day-to-day living isn't the concern; renovating, drilling or damage is.
Do I have to remove it?
No, not if it's in good condition and won't be disturbed. It should be removed before renovation or demolition, or if it's damaged.