However, until relatively recently, any search on Google for asbestos survey services, especially in the non-commercial sector would likely present results from a network of companies all linked to a handful of individuals, some of whom have been the subject of regulatory intervention. I say companies, but many of the websites relate to company names that have not been registered at Companies House and with falsified reviews, which when compared with any real reviews of sites such as Trustpilot, are clearly fabricated.  BOHS has a directory of almost 100 web domains attributed to asbestos survey providers, all of which relate to operations which give rise to serious concerns.

Last year BOHS started assisting in investigations by Trading Standards into a number of businesses, specifically claiming to be accredited by BOHS, but operating in a manner which was inconsistent with the law and without any link to BOHS or other standards bodies.

For obvious reasons, we are not in a position to publish details of the companies we have encountered, but the disastrously hazardous operations that they have undertaken, or the bogus means by which they use fear of asbestos risk to defraud homeowners and businesses cannot be minimized.

We know that UKATA also undertook significant investigations in this area and we will be working across with them. However, we would like to draw on the expertise and resources of the membership to provide any information or intelligence about undertakings which are providing asbestos survey or other services that you have encountered that you do not believe are legitimate and, where appropriate, any opportunities to contact their clients.

Any information is provided in confidence and should be sent to me personally, kevin.bampton@bohs.org. Thank you, in advance, for your help. Expect to see prosecutions this year.