Older homes guide
Buying, Selling or Renting an Older Home in Geelong
If the home was built or renovated before 1990, Victorian Government guidance says it likely contains asbestos. Sellers have no legal duty to proactively disclose it, but rental providers must disclose asbestos a qualified person has identified. A test by our asbestos personnel and a NATA-accredited lab gives you a clear answer.
- Licensed removal and testing
- EPA tracked disposal, paperwork included
- Fixed price before we start
What the Victorian rules say
- Victorian Government guidance says homes built or renovated before 1990 likely contain asbestos (Asbestos in Victoria).
- There's no legal requirement to proactively disclose asbestos when selling a home in Victoria. Rental providers must disclose asbestos that a qualified person has identified, under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (Asbestos in Victoria).
- Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria).
Where to look in an older home
Common places in older homes include fences, roofs, external cladding, eaves, gutters, downpipes, wet-area walls, vinyl flooring and backing, garages, sheds and electrical meter board backing (Asbestos in Victoria).
- Outside: fences, roof, cladding, eaves, gutters and downpipes
- Wet areas: bathroom, laundry and kitchen walls, and old vinyl
- Out the back: sheds, garages and carports
- The meter box: the backing board behind the meters
Buying
Ask the seller what they know, and don't assume a building inspection covers asbestos. If you're planning to renovate, a test before settlement or before the builders start can save surprises and help you budget for removal.
Get a fast quote
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within 30 minutes.
How it works. Easy as.
- 1
Fill out the quick form
Your name, a phone number and a rough idea of what you've got. That's enough to get started.
- 2
We'll be in touch within 30 minutes
Someone from our team gets back to you to talk through the job and answer your first questions.
- 3
We come out at a time that suits and measure up
We look at the material, measure it, and check how we'll get in and out.
- 4
Itemised fixed quote soon after the visit
Each part of the job is listed with its price, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
- 5
Say yes, with flexible payment options if cash flow's tight
Once you're happy, we lock in a date. Ask us about spreading the cost if that helps.
- 6
We notify WorkSafe Victoria, then it's removal day
We notify WorkSafe Victoria at least 24 hours ahead for 10 square metres or less of non-friable (bonded) asbestos, and at least 5 days ahead for all other removal, including any friable asbestos (WorkSafe Victoria). On the day we remove it safely and leave the place cleaner than we found it.
- 7
Done and dusted
Everything is wrapped, transported with EPA Waste Tracker paperwork (EPA Victoria) and disposed of at a licensed facility, with an independent clearance where required (WorkSafe Victoria).
Selling or renting out
Selling: there's no legal requirement to proactively disclose, but testing or removing damaged material can make things simpler for buyers. Renting out: once a qualified person has identified asbestos, you must disclose it to renters (Asbestos in Victoria).
A simple plan
- 1
List the likely spots
Use the list above to note what's in the house.
- 2
Get it tested
Our asbestos personnel sample it and a NATA-accredited lab analyses it.
- 3
Read the written results
You'll know which materials contain asbestos.
- 4
Decide what to do
Leave sound material alone, or get an itemised quote to remove it.
Common questions
There's no legal requirement to proactively disclose asbestos when selling a home in Victoria (Asbestos in Victoria). Many sellers still choose to test or remove known asbestos so buyers have fewer questions.
Rental providers must disclose asbestos that a qualified person has identified, under the Residential Tenancies Regulations 2021 (Asbestos in Victoria).
Not necessarily. Check what the inspector's report covers before you rely on it. Confirming asbestos needs a sample analysed by a NATA-accredited lab, which can be booked separately. See asbestos testing.
Victorian Government guidance says homes built or renovated before 1990 likely contain asbestos (Asbestos in Victoria). Renovations count too, so an older shed or fence on a rebuilt block can still be worth checking.
Before any renovation, drilling or demolition, get the likely materials tested. Hiring someone to work on your home makes it a workplace, so contractors must identify asbestos before they start (Asbestos in Victoria). Knowing early helps you budget.
Ready to get it off your property?
Tell us what you've found and where it is. We'll be in touch within 30 minutes, come out to measure up, and give you an itemised fixed price before anything starts.