Asbestos Dilemma...

[Smowball]

My brand new neighbour has left me the keys to his house whilst he is on holiday as he has arranged for several tradesmen to do work, including electrics, flooring etc and I’m to let them in and out and generally keep an eye.
Electrics are done, and today the new fireplace was due to be fitted. Theyve turned up and about an hour later they’ve knocked on my door and said they can’t continue as they’ve found asbestos. Then then said that I should cancel the flooring guy and tiler who are due tomorrow, but it’s not my place to do that! Do they really have to be cancelled? My neighbour is in Sri Lanka for two weeks and is expecting to come home to a completed house. I don’t know what to do.

[Denton]

You can’t mess about with Asbestos,afraid advice you were given is the thing to do.

[SparklyKid]

Shift it yourself, I doubt minimal contact will be life threatening, ah, the joys of H and S.

[Samuraisan]

Can't you contact the owner ?

[melv16]

The flooring man and tiler can't work if the fire place isn't fitted. So, I think you'll have to cancel them.

[Smowball]

Shift it myself??

[Denton]

Not in a Million years,smowball.!!

[SparklyKid]

50/60 years ago garages were made from asbestos panels, ironing boards had an asbestos piece to rest iron on. Minimal contact will have zero affect. You would have had to have worked at Turners in Rochdale for 40 years to have been affected.

[SparklyKid]

Or ferodo brake lining factory

[Flonska]

I presume that before he went away your neighbour gave you a number to call if there are any problems/emergencies. Given the circumstances I think you would be justified in making that call.

[melv16]

People are still dying from asbestosis. Don't even think of touching it.
Stupid advice, sparklykid.

[Smowball]

The tiler and floorer are for upstairs. The fireplace guy says he found the asbestos round the pipes when he removed existing fireplace. And yes I have a mobile number. Just didn’t want to ring him unless I absolutely had to.

[Samuraisan]

I wouldn't take on moving anything if you only agreed to let them in and out. Call the owners, it doesn't sound like it is your responsability and it sounds like a dream to go away and expect everything to run smoothly with such major work being done.

[Denton]

Ring them,then it is not your responsibility.

[FoxLee2]

That's a lot of responsibility for your new neighbours to dump on you. Seems a bit of a damn cheek to me. Yes, take in a parcel or make sure post and papers are pushed right through the door when they are away but having to deal with tradesmen so they don't have to - that's above and beyond being neighbourly. I'd let the flooring guy and tiler turn up, explain the problem to them and let them 'cancel themselves'.

[Denton]

Listen to melv16,good advice.

[Flonska]

When you call don't forget that the time in Sri Lanka is 4-5 hours ahead of the UK!

[Smowball]

I think he’s been really cheeky too. He asked me to let one guy in, gave me the keys and left, then send me a txt that night akin to War and Peace with a huge list of people that were turning up!

[237SJ]

Text him and tell him what's happened.

[Denton]

I think he is abusing your good nature.

[jackthehat]

Please ignore SparklyKid's ignorant and dangerous advice.

Send a text to your neighbours telling them there is a problem with asbestos, it has been brought to your attention and what would they like you to do regarding the remaining Tradesmen....

If you hear nothing, explain the situation to the flooring guy and tiler and let them decide whther they want to proceed, or not. If they don't, text that to your neighbour, too.