Buying an older property does not automatically mean an asbestos problem. But if you plan to renovate, it is worth finding out about the materials and earlier alterations before you rip out tiles, floors or boards.
Ask for existing surveys
Ask the seller, the estate agent or the property manager whether asbestos or hazardous-substance surveys have already been carried out in the property. Check which rooms and materials the reports cover. A result from another flat or from the stairwell does not have to match the structure of the very flat you are buying.
Find out the renovation history
The original year of construction does not tell the whole story. The kitchen may have been renewed in the 1980s and the bathroom later with different materials. If possible, ask when the surfaces you want to test were installed.
Define your own renovation plan
In practice, asbestos becomes relevant when old material is broken open. So list the surfaces you want to remove: floor covering, flooring adhesive, wall filler, tiles, boards or pipe insulation. The list helps you estimate how many samples you need.
Include the analysis in your budget and schedule
A laboratory analysis is a small, predictable step compared with demolition being halted because of a suspicion. With the result you know whether the material you tested can be removed normally or must be treated as asbestos-containing material.
A good checklist does not try to clear the whole building with a single sample. Its job is to bring together the renovation plan, the right material and the right spot before you take the first step of demolition.