Last reviewed: October 2026. Based on guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Yes, it could, if your home was built or refurbished before 2000. Asbestos was used in UK buildings until it was banned in 1999, and on homes it can turn up in roof tiles and slates, roofing felt, soffits and fascias, gutters and downpipes, and the corrugated sheets often used on garages and outbuildings.
That doesn't mean you need to panic. The HSE's advice is that asbestos is a risk to health when its fibres get into the air and are breathed in, and that material in good condition is often best left alone. What matters is knowing it is there before anyone drills, cuts, breaks or removes it.
Where on a roof can asbestos be found?
The HSE's diagram of where asbestos can be found in a home lists these on the outside of a house:
- Asbestos insulating board (AIB) or asbestos cement soffits and fascias, the boards under and along the edge of the eaves
- Roofing felt
- Asbestos cement roof tiles or slates
- Asbestos cement panels
- Profiled asbestos cement sheeting, the corrugated grey sheets common on garages, sheds, porches and lean-tos
- Gutters and asbestos cement downpipes
The HSE also lists asbestos cement flues, sometimes found on domestic boiler systems, and asbestos cement "undercloak" beneath the roof overhang.
Can you tell by looking?
Not reliably. The HSE describes asbestos cement as "ordinary cement mixed with asbestos", a hard grey material, which is why it looks much like modern fibre cement. Of asbestos insulating board, which can be used for soffits, it says "it is difficult to tell the difference between AIB items and non-asbestos equivalents."
The age of the house and of the roof covering is a useful clue, but the only way to know is to have a sample tested or a survey done. The National Asbestos Removal Centre explains how asbestos testing works and the different types of asbestos survey, including the refurbishment and demolition survey, the type carried out before major building work.
Is asbestos on my roof dangerous?
According to the HSE's asbestos questions and answers, if you are sure or strongly suspect your home contains asbestos, "it is often best to leave them where they are – especially if they are in good condition and unlikely to get damaged." It suggests checking the condition from time to time.
The risk rises when the material is damaged or disturbed: drilled, cut, sanded or broken. The HSE says not to try to repair or remove asbestos yourself unless you have had training for this kind of work, and that your local council's environmental health officer can give advice.
There is also a separate, very immediate danger with asbestos cement roofs: you cannot stand on them. The HSE's task sheet on removing asbestos cement sheets warns that "AC roofs are always fragile and cannot bear weight", and its roof work guidance says all roofs should be treated as fragile until a competent person has confirmed they are not. Never climb onto a garage or outbuilding roof to inspect or clean it.
What does it mean if I'm planning roof work?
If you're having a roof repaired, re-covered or replaced, the HSE asks homeowners to tell any builders or contractors about asbestos they know of before work starts, so it isn't disturbed by accident. Practical steps:
- Tell each roofer what you know about the age of the roof and any materials you suspect, when you ask for quotes.
- Ask how they will deal with suspected asbestos, including whether they will arrange testing before stripping the roof.
- Check who will do the asbestos part. The HSE says most work on asbestos cement can be done without an HSE licence by workers with the right information, instruction and training. Higher-risk materials, including most work on asbestos insulating board, need a contractor licensed by HSE.
- Ask about disposal (see below), and make sure it is included in the price.
If you are replacing fascias and soffits or gutters and downpipes on an older house, raise it then too, because these are on the HSE's list.
Replace, overclad or leave alone?
For asbestos cement roof sheets, the HSE's own task sheet asks whether the sheets can be overlaid with non-asbestos material instead of removed, fixed to the existing supports and avoiding drilling through the asbestos cement. Leaving sound material in place, overcladding it, and replacing it are all options; which is right depends on the condition of the roof and what you want from it.
If the sheets are removed, the HSE says they should be taken down as intact as possible rather than broken up. For garage and outbuilding roofs specifically, see the National Asbestos Removal Centre's guide to asbestos garage roof removal.
For a house roof covered in asbestos cement slates, a full re-roof will usually mean removing them. The roofer's quote should say how the old slates will be handled and disposed of. If you're choosing what goes back on, our comparison of slate, clay and concrete tiles may help.
How is asbestos roofing disposed of?
The HSE says asbestos waste must be disposed of as hazardous waste and must not be mixed with normal household waste. It should go to a licensed disposal site, wrapped so that fibres can't escape; intact asbestos cement sheets should be double-wrapped in heavy polythene rather than broken into smaller pieces.
Councils in England and Wales give information on asbestos and its disposal locally, and some offer a collection service or accept small amounts at particular sites. You can find your council's asbestos information on GOV.UK.
Frequently asked questions
When was asbestos banned in the UK? The HSE says asbestos was widely used in homes and other buildings until 1999, when it was banned. Any home built or refurbished before 2000 could contain it.
Are old grey roof slates asbestos? They might be. The HSE lists asbestos cement roof tiles and slates as a material found on houses. Asbestos cement looks very similar to modern fibre cement, so a sample needs to be tested to be sure.
Can a roofer remove an asbestos cement garage roof? The HSE says most work on asbestos cement can be done without a licence, but only by workers who have had the right information, instruction and training. Ask the contractor how they are trained for it and how they will dispose of the waste.
Should I remove asbestos from my roof before selling? There's no general rule that you must. The HSE's advice is that asbestos in good condition is often best left in place and monitored. Get it identified so you can tell buyers and contractors accurately.
Need roofing work on an older home?
Better Roofing doesn't carry out roofing or asbestos work itself. Get free quotes from local roofers — tell us about the job and anything you suspect is asbestos, and we'll find up to 3 local roofers who cover your area and ask them to contact you with a quote. It's free and there's no obligation. See also our guide to new roof costs.
