Guide
Buying or Renting an Older Home in Canberra
The ACT Government says any home built before 1990 may contain asbestos. If you're buying or renting a home built in or before 1990, you'll be given the ACT Asbestos Advice Notice, but that notice is general advice, not an inspection. For real answers, get a licensed assessor to check it and look the address up on the Mr Fluffy lists.
- Licensed removal and testing
- Independent clearance included
- Fixed price before we start
The 1990 line
Any ACT home built before 1990 may contain asbestos (WorkSafe ACT). That covers a lot of Canberra, from inner north cottages to 1980s brick homes in the outer districts.
The ACT Asbestos Advice Notice
Since 1 July 2023 the updated ACT Asbestos Advice Notice must be given to new owners and tenants through sale contracts and tenancy agreements for homes built in or before 1990 (WorkSafe ACT).
A notice is not an inspection. It's general advice, not proof that the home has been inspected. It won't tell you whether the eaves, bathroom or fence actually contain asbestos.
Where to look in an older home
WorkSafe ACT suggests checking these places in homes built before 1990 (WorkSafe ACT guide):
- Roof sheeting and ridge capping
- Gutters and downpipes
- Eaves
- External cladding
- Electrical switchboards
- Wet-area wall and ceiling panels
- Backing behind tiles and splashbacks
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Hot-water pipe lagging
- Fences, sheds and garages
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details or photos and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
- 1
Fill out the quick form
A name, a number and a rough idea of the job is plenty. Photos help if you have them.
- 2
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
Our team calls or texts back to talk it through and answer the first round of questions.
- 3
We come out and measure up
At a time that suits you, we take a look, measure up and check access.
- 4
Your written quote lands soon after
One all-inclusive fixed price, covering removal, wrapping, transport, disposal and clearance where required.
- 5
Say yes when you're ready
Flexible payment options are there if cash flow's a bit tight. Just ask.
- 6
Notice, then removal day
We give WorkSafe ACT the required written notice (at least 5 days), then on the day we remove it safely and leave the place cleaner than we found it.
- 7
Done and dusted
Everything is wrapped, transported and disposed of at Mugga Lane, with an independent clearance where required.
Check the Mr Fluffy Register and Historical List
The Affected Residential Premises Register lists known remaining affected homes. The Historical List includes homes that were affected, including ones since demolished and remediated. A home not on the Register may still be on the Historical List, and a rebuilt home on a remediated block is not itself contaminated. Check both (ACT loose-fill asbestos information).
More background in our Mr Fluffy guide.
Planning a renovation after you move in?
Before refurbishing a home, asbestos likely to be disturbed must be identified and removed before work begins (WorkSafe ACT). Factor testing and removal into your reno budget early. Start with asbestos testing and the cost guide.
Common questions
It's a sensible step for any home built in or before 1990. The ACT Asbestos Advice Notice is general advice, not proof the home has been inspected. A whole-house survey by a licensed assessor tells you what's actually there, so you can budget before you commit.
Yes, it could. The ACT Government says any home built before 1990 may contain asbestos. In units, wet areas, vinyl floor tiles and switchboards are common places to check.
WorkSafe ACT's pre-1990 advice is not a property-specific result for a house built after 2010. We won't call a material asbestos-free from the build date alone. Have a licensed asbestos assessor identify anything you're unsure about.
No. It's general advice given for homes built in or before 1990. It doesn't say asbestos is present, and it doesn't mean anyone has inspected the home.
In a home built before 1990, check with your landlord first. Drilling into a material that contains asbestos can release dust.
Check both the Affected Residential Premises Register and the Historical List. A home not on the Register may still be on the Historical List, and a rebuilt home on a remediated block is not itself contaminated.
Let's get it sorted
Tell us what you've got and where. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes, measure up at a time that suits, and give you one fixed price before any work starts.