Short answer up front: yes, as a private homeowner you may sometimes remove asbestos yourself, but only under strict conditions. It has to be no more than 35 m2 of bonded asbestos from your own house or outbuilding, such as screwed corrugated sheets or unglued floor tiles, in good condition, which you take off whole without breaking, sawing or drilling. You have to notify your local council in advance (that notification is usually free), and you have to pack it up safely and take it to the recycling centre.
Everything outside that, so more than 35 m2, weathered or broken sheets, roof slates, nailed or glued material, anything indoors and all loosely bonded asbestos, has to be done by a certified asbestos removal company. Full stop.
Even slightly unsure about your own situation? Then call your council or its asbestos helpdesk. With this subject, being careful is not weakness, it is common sense.
Below I explain it calmly and completely. What is allowed, what is not, how to tell the difference, and how to tackle it safely step by step.
Why is asbestos so dangerous in the first place?
Let me be honest, because this is the reason all those rules exist.
Asbestos itself is not the problem as long as it is intact and left alone. The danger sits in the loose fibres. Saw, break or drill into asbestos, or use a pressure washer, and tiny fibres are released that you cannot see and cannot smell.
Breathe those fibres in and they can lodge deep in your lungs. According to the Dutch government, that can cause serious lung disease and cancer over time, sometimes only decades later. That is why asbestos has been banned in the Netherlands since 1994.
So remember this if nothing else sticks: it is not about whether you can see dust. It is about not damaging the material and protecting yourself properly.
Do I even have asbestos in my home?
Is your house or shed from before 1994? Then there is a real chance it contains asbestos. According to Milieu Centraal, asbestos was used in a great many building materials from before that time.
Think of corrugated sheets on shed roofs, flat facade panels, soil pipes, old floor tiles, planters and sometimes even areas behind stoves or in boiler rooms.
But be careful: recognising asbestos is difficult, as Milieu Centraal admits itself. You cannot identify it by eye with any certainty. Not sure whether something is asbestos? Then there are two safe routes:
- Have a sample analysed by a certified laboratory.
- Have an asbestos survey carried out by a certified company. That report shows what is there, where it is, and whether it can safely stay put or has to go. A survey report is usually valid for three years.
For the record: you can find certified companies through Ascert.nl, the official register administrator.
Bonded or loosely bonded: this is the most important distinction
This is the part you really need to understand, because everything hangs on it.
Bonded asbestos means the fibres are held firmly in a binder, for example in cement. Think of asbestos cement corrugated sheets, flat facade panels and many old floor tiles. As long as this material is intact, it releases hardly any fibres. This is the type a private homeowner is allowed to remove, subject to conditions.
Loosely bonded asbestos (also called friable asbestos) means the fibres sit loose in the material and come out easily. Think of sprayed asbestos, asbestos board and card, fire-resistant panels and some insulation materials. Touching this yourself is life-threatening.
For loosely bonded asbestos the rule has no exceptions: never do it yourself. Always a certified asbestos removal company. Even if it is only a small piece.
Not sure which type you have? Then assume you are not allowed to do it yourself and get advice. When in doubt, always pick the safe side.
When am I allowed to remove asbestos myself?
Now the heart of it. According to the Dutch government and the Environment Information Point (IPLO), as a private homeowner you may remove asbestos yourself if you meet all of the conditions below. Not most of them. All of them.
Here they are, one by one:
- A maximum of 35 m2 of asbestos-containing material.
Three figures that decide whether you may do it yourself, and how you pack it. This is the legal upper limit for private individuals. Go above it and you are not allowed to do it yourself.
- Only bonded material in good condition. Screwed corrugated or facade sheets, or unglued floor tiles and floor coverings. The material must not be weathered, damaged or broken.
- Fixed with screws, not nailed, glued or stapled. Screwed material can be undone without damaging it. Nailed or glued material almost always breaks, and then fibres are released.
- Remove it whole. You take off the entire sheet or tile. No breaking, no sawing, no drilling.
- It concerns your own house or outbuilding. Not a rented home (the landlord arranges that) and not commercial premises.
- You genuinely do it yourself. You may not hire or pay a builder, handyman or neighbour to do it. If you do, it has to be a certified company.
- You have notified the council in advance. More on that below.
Tick every box? Then you can get started, provided you do it safely. Fail on a single point? Then it is a job for a certified company.
When does it always have to be a certified company?
To avoid any misunderstanding, here are the situations where you really are not allowed to do it yourself. A certified asbestos removal company is then mandatory:
| Situation | Why not yourself |
|---|---|
| More than 35 m2 | Above the legal limit for private individuals |
| Weathered, damaged or broken sheets | Fibres are no longer held firmly, too much risk |
| Nailed, glued or stapled sheets | They break when you release them |
| Roof slates | Break too easily, risk too great |
| All loosely bonded asbestos | Sprayed asbestos, card, board: fibres come loose |
| Asbestos indoors / higher risk class | Often falls under risk class 2 or 2A, certified only |
| Commercial premises or rented home | Different rules, not for private individuals |
According to the Netherlands Labour Authority, asbestos in risk class 2 and 2A may only be removed by a company holding the statutory asbestos removal certificate. That is not advice, that is a legal requirement.
Yes, a certified company costs money. But it saves you a health risk, a possible fine and a lot of hassle. Sometimes there is also a grant or scheme through your council or province, so always ask.
Notifying the council: mandatory and usually free
Even if you are allowed to remove it yourself and intend to, you have to notify the council in advance. This is called a demolition notification (sloopmelding) and you submit it through the Omgevingsloket (omgevingswet.overheid.nl). At most councils this notification is free.
Why is this needed? The council wants to know what you are planning, can check whether it can be done safely, and you often need the proof of notification to hand the asbestos in at the recycling centre.
Watch the deadlines, because they are set in law:
- Submit the demolition notification at least 5 working days (a week) beforehand. So do not start on impulse one Saturday morning.
- After that you submit a start notification, at least 2 working days before you begin.
- And when you are done, a completion notification, usually on the first working day after you finish.
The exact details sometimes differ per council. So always check your own council’s website, or give them a ring. They also have an asbestos helpdesk that can help you further.
Working safely: what to wear, and what to do and not do
Taking on those 35 m2 of screwed corrugated sheets yourself? Then you do it properly or you do not do it at all. There are no half measures with asbestos.
What to wear (personal protection):
- A proper dust mask, type FFP3 or P3. An ordinary paper face mask or an FFP2 is not enough.
- Disposable coveralls (type 5), which you throw away afterwards.
- Gloves, disposable.
- Safety goggles.
What to do:
- Wet the material thoroughly first with water and a little washing-up liquid. Wet asbestos releases far fewer fibres. This is arguably the single most important safety step.
- Undo the screws calmly and take each sheet off whole.
- Put the sheets down carefully, do not throw them or stack them with force.
- Work on a calm, windless day and keep others (children, pets) well away.
What never to do:
- Never break, saw, drill or sand it. Never.
- No pressure washer on asbestos. It blows fibres in every direction.
- Do not sweep with an ordinary broom or vacuum, because that stirs the fibres up.
- Do not take your coveralls indoors or put them in the wash. Throw them away with the asbestos.
Packing: double, sealed and labelled
Once removed, asbestos does not just get left lying about. You pack it properly straight away, and you do that packing at home, not at the recycling centre.
Here is how, according to Milieu Centraal and most councils:
- Pack it double in strong, airtight sheeting or special asbestos bags of at least 0.2 mm thick.
- Seal the seams properly with tape.
- Make sure the material stays wet while you wrap it.
- Label the packaging clearly as asbestos.
Handy to know: many recycling centres will give you that special asbestos sheeting or those bags free of charge if you show your proof of notification (acceptance certificate). Check with your council in advance.
Disposal at the recycling centre: free up to a limit
Asbestos absolutely must not go in the normal household waste or in a skip. And dumping it somewhere is illegal and a criminal offence. Councils can impose hefty fines and penalty payments for it. So do it properly.
This is how disposal works:
- Register it in advance with your council (often the same notification as your demolition notification). You will receive an acceptance certificate.
- Take the packed asbestos to your council’s recycling centre. Bring your proof of notification.
- At many councils you can hand asbestos in free of charge up to a certain limit, for example up to 35 m2 per address. The exact quantity, and whether it is free, differs per council.
Because this genuinely varies from council to council (one counts square metres, another kilos, one is free, another is not), the advice is simple: check your own recycling centre’s website or ring them before you turn up. Never arrive unannounced with a trailer full of asbestos.
Common mistakes (that are easy to avoid)
Most of the misery comes down to a handful of things. Have a quick look at what you recognise:
- Starting without notifying. It is mandatory, usually free, and you need the proof for the recycling centre. Just do it.
- Thinking an FFP2 mask is enough. It is not. Only FFP3 or P3.
- Working dry. Wetting the material halves the risk. Do not skip that step.
- Forcing a sheet that is stuck or weathered. The moment it breaks or is weathered, it is no longer a DIY job.
- Grabbing the pressure washer to clean a roof. This is one of the most dangerous things you can do with asbestos.
- Throwing asbestos in with the building rubble or in a skip. Illegal, a criminal offence and unfair on the people who have to clear it up.
- Having doubts and carrying on anyway. When in doubt, call your council or the asbestos helpdesk. Always.
What does it cost to have it done?
Sometimes doing it yourself is simply not permitted, or not sensible. Then a certified company comes in. Honest ranges, because the price depends on quantity, access and the type of asbestos:
| Item | Guide price (indication) |
|---|---|
| Asbestos survey (report) | roughly € 300 to € 600 |
| Having an asbestos roof removed | broadly € 20 to € 50 per m2 |
| Demolition/asbestos notification to the council | usually free |
| Taking it to the recycling centre yourself | often free up to a limit |
| Special asbestos sheeting/bags | often free from the recycling centre |
These are guide figures to give you a feel for it, not a quote. Always get several quotes, and ask your council or province about grants or schemes, because they do sometimes exist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the asbestos corrugated sheets off my shed roof myself?
Yes, if it involves no more than 35 m2 of bonded corrugated sheets that are screwed on, in good condition (not weathered or broken), on your own house or outbuilding, and you remove them whole without breaking or sawing. Notify your council in advance. If you do not meet those conditions, a certified company has to do it.
How much asbestos may I remove myself as a private homeowner?
A maximum of 35 m2 of asbestos-containing material, according to the Dutch government and the IPLO. Above that, or if the material is weathered, broken, nailed, glued or loosely bonded? Then you are not allowed to do it yourself.
Do I have to notify anyone, and does that cost money?
Yes, notification is mandatory through the Omgevingsloket, at least 5 working days in advance. At most councils that notification is free. You often need the proof of notification to hand the asbestos in at the recycling centre too.
Which mask do I need?
A dust mask of type FFP3 or P3. An ordinary face mask or an FFP2 does not protect you sufficiently against asbestos fibres. Combine it with disposable coveralls, gloves and safety goggles.
How do I dispose of the asbestos?
Wet it, double-wrap it in airtight sheeting of at least 0.2 mm, tape the seams, label it as asbestos, and take it to the recycling centre after registering. Never in the normal waste, never dumped. That is a criminal offence.
I am not sure whether it is asbestos, or which type. What now?
Then assume you are not allowed to do it yourself. Have a sample analysed or an asbestos survey carried out by a certified company, and if in doubt call your council or its asbestos helpdesk. With asbestos you always take the safe route.
Is that old asbestos roof about to disappear, leaving you with a bare shed or an empty patch of garden? Then the fun part begins: building something new. A fresh shed, a carport or a garden house, exactly the way you want it.
Do yourself a favour and start with a good plan. At fredsdiyplans.com you will find ready-made building plans with a materials list and step-by-step instructions, so you can crack on properly once the demolition is done. Have a look.
Regards from Fred Schouten, builder and DIYer through and through.