Asbestos awareness snapshot
Real estate agents/private landlords
zz
zz
zz
Around a quarter of real estate agents and private landlords
surveyed have received asbestos-related queries from
clients or tenants over past three years
Only 1 in 5 have received any formal asbestos training
More than a third of real estate agents/private landlords
describe themselves as only “moderately informed” or below
in relation to asbestos and its related dangers
Real estate agents and private landlords are facing asbestosrelated queries from clients or tenants — and there is a desire
among many to build their practical knowledge of asbestos
and its associated dangers via additional formal training —
according to a recent survey of 122 real estate agents and
private landlords commissioned by Asbestos Safety and
Eradication Agency and undertaken by independent market
research firm Colmar Brunton.
While many real estate agents and private
landlords feel informed on asbestos, a
significant minority feel less informed
The survey showed that some 63% of real estate agents/private
landlords felt either ‘very informed’ (17%) or ‘informed’ (46%)
in relation to asbestos and its related dangers. A further 25% felt
they were only ‘moderately informed’, while 12% said they were
either ‘poorly informed’ (10%) or ‘not informed at all’ (2%).
A subsequent question showed that 85% of real estate
agents/private landlords surveyed said it was important for
them to know about asbestos and its related dangers.
January 2015
10%
2%
17%
25%
46%
Real estate agents and landlords (n=122)
Very informed
Informed
Moderately informed
Poorly informed
Not informed at all
Don't know
On a scale of 1-5, where 1 is not informed at all and 5 is very informed, how
informed do you feel about asbestos and its related dangers? SR, 1 - 5 SCALE,
INCLUDE DON’T KNOW OPTION
Base: All respondents
This group report receiving asbestos-related
queries from clients and/or tenants
The survey results showed that a quarter of real estate agents/
private landlords had received asbestos-related queries from
their clients or tenants over the past three years. Of those
receiving queries, most felt they were either ‘very well placed’
(19%) or ‘well placed’ (42%) to answer these. However, some
39% reported feeling either only ‘moderately well placed’
(23%) or below, suggesting there is scope for this key
influencing segment to be further supported in their ability
to respond to such queries into the future.
Risks of exposure to asbestos generally well
accepted by this group
The survey showed the majority of real estate agents & private
landlords are well aware of the risks associated with exposure to
asbestos. Some 82% of this group agreed with the statement that
“even a small exposure to asbestos can be very dangerous”
(54% strongly agree, 28% agree). Of some concern was the
7% that disagreed with this statement.
Only one in five real estate agents/private
landlords report receiving any formal
asbestos training
Of the real estate agents/private landlords surveyed, just 19%
reported having received any formal asbestos training. Of those
that had received such formal training (most commonly
delivered through either their own company or through a peak
body in the sector), the vast majority reported such training as
being useful (91%).
When asked if they feel they needed further training in relation
to asbestos and how it needs to be managed in any building,
renovation or demolition work, 50% of this group said yes.
Together, these findings suggest that additional training on
asbestos to those operating in this sector would be well
received by many in real estate agent or private landlord roles.
Duty of care to clients/tenants acknowledged,
but practical challenges remain
The survey showed that 84% of this group agreed that they
have a duty of care to advise tenants where asbestos is present
(just 3% disagreed). However, there seems a critical gap in
practical knowledge underpinning this for many, with
significant proportions of this audience disagreeing with the
following statements:
zz ‘I know what to do if asbestos is identified in a property’
(17% disagree)
zz ‘I know how tenants can protect themselves from exposure
to asbestos’ (21% disagree)
zz ‘I have enough information about asbestos to advise clients
or tenants where necessary’ (25% disagree).
Asbestos information sources and preferred
channels among real estate agents/private
landlords
Real estate agents/private landlords most commonly identified
a “google search” as the way they would most likely seek out
information in relation to asbestos (80%).
Some 20% of real estate agents/private landlords said they had
a current need for specific information about asbestos and how
it needs to be managed, including:
zz General information/guidelines
zz Symptoms of associated health problems
zz How to identify asbestos/materials containing asbestos; and
zz How to undertake appropriate risk assessment.
About ASEA
The Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency was
established on 1 July 2013 to provide a national focus
on asbestos issues, which go beyond workplace safety
to encompass environmental and public health. The
independent agency will ensure asbestos issues receive
the attention and focus needed to drive change across
all levels of government.
About the survey
Findings reported in this document are from a national
online survey of 122 real estate agents and/or private
landlords, conducted by Colmar Brunton in May 2014.
ASEA will consider these findings and develop targeted
strategies to increase awareness of the dangers of asbestos.
MOU15-0001