Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. Asbestos fibres are soft and flexible yet resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make the mineral useful, but they also make asbestos exposure highly toxic

If your home was constructed before the 1980’s it is more then likely that there will be some asbestos used in your home’s construction.

In most asbestosis patients, symptoms develop within 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos. If someone is exposed to asbestos for a long time, a decade or more, the latency period of symptom development is shorter: closer to 20 years. The symptoms consist of the following swelling in the neck or face, difficulty swallowing, high blood pressure, blood in sputum, crackling sound when breathing, shortness of breath, hypertension, finger deformity, loss of weight/appetite.

Asbestos is most likely to be found within the roof, eaves linings, bathrooms and laundries, kitchens, garage & shed linings, old cladding, vinyl tiles and formwork for concrete slabs, paths & driveways.

Potentially, asbestos becomes a risk if it is in a poor condition, aged, weathered or if it is disturbed as there are greater changes of the asbestos fibres becoming airborne and inhaled.

The legislation says, merely controlling access to non-domestic premises makes you a 'duty holder'. So you are still responsible under the law. There can be more then one duty holder, you may need to discuss your responsibilities with your landlord as it will depend on your lease agreement. 

Prior to demolition, it is the owners  duty to have an asbestos survey carried out on the building. This is also called a Part 6 Audit, which lists the   locations of all identifiable asbestos and its condition.