CURO Housing - Asbestos contaminated tenanted housing stock.
A Tenant | 11.05.2015 15:26 | Education | Health | Social Struggles | Wales | World
"There are many properties with asbestos that are not logged...I would hesitate to tell tenants about known asbestos..." (email from B&NES Council Housing Department to Curo Housing Chief Executive 2nd November 1999 5.00pm)
"Many if not most properties built prior to 1970 will have products containing asbestos. Approximately 75% (8000 plus) of Curo's housing fall into this category...
Within B&NES Council, a register of properties containing asbestos was commenced and disclosed on the sell-off. The list however was far from complete and identified properties where there was an existing knowledge...
To attempt to survey all properties and take remedial action to remove asbestos would appear to prsent costs and activity out of all proportion to the risk." (letter B&NES Council Director of Housing to Curo Chief Executive 24/01/2000)
"The asbestos which has been identified in Curo properties is, in all cases, on the outside of the buildings." (B&NES Council Director of Housing & Social Services Bath Chronicle 1st September 2000)
"ASBESTOS SURVEY REPORT
SURVEY REFERENCE J033088
Customer - Curo Housing Group 04/04/2014
Ground floor - hall, gas cupboard, kitchen, living room ASBESTOS DETECTED. 1st Floor- landing, W.C, bathroom, bedroom 1, bedroom 2 ASBESTOS DETECTED."
This asbestos only detected 9 years after extensive repairs and improvements carried out on property by Curo Housing.
We look forward to the Housing Ombudsmans impending report into this scandalous situation ASAP.
Within B&NES Council, a register of properties containing asbestos was commenced and disclosed on the sell-off. The list however was far from complete and identified properties where there was an existing knowledge...
To attempt to survey all properties and take remedial action to remove asbestos would appear to prsent costs and activity out of all proportion to the risk." (letter B&NES Council Director of Housing to Curo Chief Executive 24/01/2000)
"The asbestos which has been identified in Curo properties is, in all cases, on the outside of the buildings." (B&NES Council Director of Housing & Social Services Bath Chronicle 1st September 2000)
"ASBESTOS SURVEY REPORT
SURVEY REFERENCE J033088
Customer - Curo Housing Group 04/04/2014
Ground floor - hall, gas cupboard, kitchen, living room ASBESTOS DETECTED. 1st Floor- landing, W.C, bathroom, bedroom 1, bedroom 2 ASBESTOS DETECTED."
This asbestos only detected 9 years after extensive repairs and improvements carried out on property by Curo Housing.
We look forward to the Housing Ombudsmans impending report into this scandalous situation ASAP.
A Tenant
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Your not the only person to have been exposed !
11.05.2015 18:23
Date: 19 March 2014
A Bath building contractor exposed two of its employees to asbestos dust while working at a residential property in the city, a court heard today (19 March).
Geoff Thomas and Son Ltd allowed the workmen to demolish a basement ceiling without adequately checking for the presence of asbestos and sent the pair to work on other jobs without decontaminating their clothes when working at the property in New King Street in January 2013.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted the company at Bath Magistrates.
The court heard that Geoff Thomas and Son had been contracted by Curo Places Ltd (formerly Somer Community Housing Trust), to replace the ceiling. The two employees carried out the job using hand tools and pulled parts of the ceiling – made of asbestos insulation board – down by hand.
When it was identified that the ceiling may contain asbestos, it sent the workers off to do other jobs without decontaminating their clothes or tools. It was later found the ceiling did contain asbestos.
HSE’s investigation found the contractors failed to make suitable and sufficient assessment for the presence of asbestos before work started and failed to prevent its spread.
Geoff Thomas and Son Ltd of Braysdown, Peasedown St John, Bath pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and was fined a total of £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £637.
HSE Inspector Paul Newton, speaking after the hearing, said:
“The long-term effects of exposure to asbestos materials is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK and the exposure of these two workers to this dangerous substance was entirely preventable.
“It was clear the work would disturb the fabric of the building, creating a risk of exposing asbestos, so a full survey of the area should have been carried out before work started and suitable plans put in place to deal with it.
“Geoff Thomas and Son then compounded the problem by failing to decontaminate the workers, their clothes and equipment. Instead they were allowed to go to other jobs and return home, potentially spreading the asbestos to their workmates and families.
“The removal of high-risk, asbestos-containing materials should only be done by a licensed contractor.”
Further information about working on asbestos can be found on the HSE website at
Very concerned