How to Report Illegal Asbestos Removal in the UK — and Why It Matters
Illegal asbestos removal happens more often than most people realise. Whether it’s a cowboy contractor ripping out asbestos insulating board without a licence, a landlord cutting corners on a refurbishment, or someone fly-tipping asbestos waste down a country lane — the consequences for public health are serious.
If you suspect illegal asbestos removal is taking place, you have the right to report it. In many cases, you have a legal obligation to act. This post explains exactly how to report illegal asbestos removal in the UK, who to contact, what counts as illegal in the first place, and what happens after you make a report.
What Counts as Illegal Asbestos Removal?
Not all asbestos work requires a licence — but the highest-risk activities do, and the law is unambiguous about this. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, certain types of asbestos removal must only be carried out by contractors holding a current HSE licence.
Licensed work includes the removal of:
- Asbestos insulation — pipe lagging, boiler insulation
- Asbestos insulating board (AIB) — ceiling tiles, partition boards, fire doors
- Loose-fill asbestos used as cavity insulation in some homes
- Any material where the asbestos is friable or damaged and poses a high risk of fibre release
If any of these materials are being disturbed or removed by someone without a valid HSE licence, that is illegal asbestos removal — full stop.
There is also a notification requirement. Licensed contractors must notify the HSE at least 14 days before starting notifiable licensed work. If work is proceeding without that notification, that’s a further breach of the regulations.
What About Non-Licensed Work?
Some lower-risk asbestos work — such as removing small areas of asbestos cement or undamaged floor tiles — can be carried out without a licence. But it still has to be done safely and in accordance with HSE guidance.
Even non-licensed work carried out recklessly, without proper controls, or by someone with no training can constitute a legal breach. If you’re unsure whether the work you’ve witnessed should have required a licence, HSE guidance is clear: when in doubt, treat it as licensed work until proven otherwise.
What Illegal Asbestos Removal Looks Like in Practice
Illegal asbestos removal doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle — a skip outside a Victorian terrace filled with broken ceiling tiles, or a van leaving a commercial building with unsecured bags of insulation material.
Here are the most common scenarios you should be aware of.
Unlicensed Contractors Carrying Out Licensed Work
This is the most straightforward form of illegal removal. A contractor — often a general builder or demolition firm — removes asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that legally require a licensed operative. They may not know they’re dealing with asbestos, or they may know and choose to ignore it.
Signs to watch for include:
- Workers without appropriate respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
- No decontamination unit on site
- No warning signs or exclusion zones
- No visible waste containment procedures
Illegal Fly-Tipping of Asbestos Waste
Asbestos waste is classified as hazardous waste under UK environmental law. It must be transported by a registered waste carrier, accompanied by a hazardous waste consignment note, and disposed of at a licensed facility.
Dumping it — in a field, in a skip, on a roadside — is a criminal offence. Fly-tipped asbestos is a genuine public health risk. Broken asbestos cement sheets or disturbed insulation can release fibres into the air, putting anyone nearby at risk of exposure.
Landlords and Property Owners Cutting Corners
Illegal removal also happens in residential settings. A landlord arranges a quick refurbishment without commissioning a proper survey first. A homeowner pulls out an old storage heater or removes a textured ceiling without checking whether it contains asbestos.
These situations may not be malicious, but they can still be illegal — and they still create risk. Before any significant work on a pre-2000 building, a demolition survey should be carried out to identify all ACMs that could be disturbed. Skipping this step isn’t just bad practice — in many circumstances it’s a breach of the duty to manage asbestos.
Who to Contact to Report Illegal Asbestos Removal
Knowing who to report to is half the battle. Different enforcement bodies cover different aspects of asbestos law, so the right contact depends on what you’ve witnessed.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
The HSE is the primary enforcement authority for asbestos in the workplace and on construction sites. If you’ve witnessed unlicensed removal of high-risk materials, work proceeding without notification, or a site with no visible safety controls, the HSE is your first port of call.
You can report concerns to the HSE via their online reporting form at hse.gov.uk, or by calling their contact centre. Reports can be made anonymously. The HSE has powers to issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, and to prosecute — and they use them.
The Environment Agency (EA)
If you’ve discovered fly-tipped asbestos waste, or you suspect asbestos waste is being transported or disposed of illegally, report it to the Environment Agency. Their 24-hour incident hotline handles reports of illegal waste activity, including asbestos fly-tipping.
In Scotland, the equivalent body is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). In Wales, it’s Natural Resources Wales (NRW). All three operate incident reporting lines and take illegal asbestos disposal seriously.
Your Local Council
Local councils have enforcement powers in relation to statutory nuisance, planning conditions, and fly-tipping on public land. If asbestos waste has been dumped in a public area, your local council’s environmental health department is often the fastest point of contact for getting it secured and removed.
Councils can also act on complaints about unsafe building works in residential settings, particularly where there’s a risk to neighbouring properties or members of the public.
The Police
In cases of serious fly-tipping or where there is evidence of organised criminal activity around illegal waste disposal, the police can also be involved. Asbestos fly-tipping can be prosecuted as a criminal offence under the Environmental Protection Act, with unlimited fines and potential custodial sentences.
What Information to Include in Your Report
A report is only as useful as the information it contains. When you contact the HSE, Environment Agency, or local council, provide as much detail as possible.
Useful information includes:
- The exact location of the work or fly-tipped waste — postcode, street address, or GPS coordinates
- The date and time you witnessed the activity
- A description of what you saw — what materials were being removed or dumped, and how they were being handled
- Any vehicle registration numbers, particularly useful for fly-tipping cases
- The name of the contractor or company involved, if known
- Photographs or video footage, if it’s safe to take them
- Whether workers were wearing any PPE or RPE
- Whether there were warning signs, exclusion zones, or containment measures in place
You do not need to be certain that asbestos is present to make a report. If you have reasonable grounds to suspect it, that’s enough. The enforcement bodies will investigate and make their own assessment.
Can You Report Illegal Asbestos Removal Anonymously?
Yes. The HSE accepts anonymous reports, as does the Environment Agency. You are not required to give your name or contact details, although providing them can help investigators follow up if they need clarification.
If you’re a worker who has witnessed illegal asbestos removal by your employer, you may also have whistleblower protections under UK employment law. You should not face detriment for making a good-faith report about a health and safety breach.
What Happens After You Report Illegal Asbestos Removal?
Enforcement bodies prioritise reports based on the level of risk. An active removal project with no controls and workers at immediate risk of exposure will be treated differently from a report of historical fly-tipping in a remote location.
In serious cases, the HSE can issue a prohibition notice that stops work immediately. They can also attend site unannounced, seize records, and interview those involved. Prosecutions for unlicensed asbestos removal can result in unlimited fines and, in serious cases, imprisonment.
For fly-tipped asbestos waste, the Environment Agency or local council will arrange for the waste to be safely secured and removed. Investigators will attempt to trace those responsible using CCTV footage, witness accounts, and any documentation found with the waste.
You may not always receive direct feedback on the outcome of your report — enforcement investigations can take time — but reports do lead to action, and the information you provide contributes to a broader picture of compliance in your area.
How to Protect Yourself if You Discover Asbestos Waste
If you come across what you believe to be asbestos waste — whether fly-tipped or left behind after building work — do not touch it, disturb it, or attempt to move it yourself. Keep a safe distance and keep others away from the area.
Asbestos fibres are invisible to the naked eye, and disturbing damaged or friable asbestos material without proper controls can result in significant exposure. Report it immediately and let the appropriate authorities manage the response.
If you’re a property owner who has discovered that asbestos removal has taken place on your premises without your knowledge or consent — or that it was carried out incorrectly — you should commission a professional management survey to assess the current condition of any remaining ACMs and establish what, if anything, needs to be done.
The Role of Proper Surveying in Preventing Illegal Removal
Most illegal asbestos removal doesn’t start with malicious intent. It starts with ignorance — a contractor who doesn’t know what they’re dealing with, or a property owner who hasn’t had the building properly assessed before work begins.
The single most effective way to prevent illegal removal is to commission the right survey before any work starts.
- For occupied buildings, a management survey identifies the location, type, and condition of ACMs so that anyone working in the building knows what they’re dealing with.
- For refurbishment or demolition projects, a demolition survey is legally required before work begins — it provides a full picture of all ACMs that could be disturbed.
- If an asbestos management plan is already in place, a re-inspection survey ensures it remains current and that the condition of known ACMs is being properly monitored.
- Where there is uncertainty about whether a material contains asbestos, professional asbestos testing provides a definitive answer.
- You can also purchase a testing kit to collect samples yourself, which are then sent for professional sample analysis in an accredited laboratory.
When removal is required, it must be carried out by a licensed contractor. Supernova’s asbestos removal service is fully licensed and compliant with all regulatory requirements — giving you complete confidence that the work is being done correctly.
Asbestos Compliance Across the UK
Illegal asbestos removal is a nationwide problem, and enforcement takes place across all regions. Whether you’re in London, Manchester, or anywhere else in the country, the same regulations apply and the same enforcement bodies are active.
If you’re based in London and need professional asbestos services, our asbestos survey London team operates across the capital, covering commercial, residential, and industrial properties. If you’re in the north-west, our asbestos survey Manchester team provides the same high standard of service across Greater Manchester and the surrounding area.
Wherever you are, the obligation to manage asbestos safely is the same — and so is the risk when that obligation is ignored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is classed as illegal asbestos removal in the UK?
Illegal asbestos removal occurs when high-risk asbestos-containing materials — such as asbestos insulation, asbestos insulating board, or loose-fill asbestos — are disturbed or removed by a contractor who does not hold a valid HSE licence. It also includes licensed work that proceeds without the required 14-day advance notification to the HSE, and any asbestos waste that is disposed of without following hazardous waste regulations.
Who do I contact to report illegal asbestos removal?
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the primary body for reporting unlicensed removal on construction sites or in workplaces. For illegal fly-tipping of asbestos waste, contact the Environment Agency in England, SEPA in Scotland, or Natural Resources Wales. Your local council’s environmental health team can also act on reports of unsafe building works or fly-tipped waste on public land.
Can I report illegal asbestos removal anonymously?
Yes. Both the HSE and the Environment Agency accept anonymous reports. You are not required to provide your name or contact details. If you are an employee reporting your employer, you may also be protected under UK whistleblowing legislation and should not face any detriment for making a genuine health and safety report.
What should I do if I find fly-tipped asbestos waste?
Do not touch, move, or disturb the material. Keep yourself and others away from the area. Report it immediately to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline or your local council. If the asbestos appears damaged or friable, note this in your report, as it affects the urgency of the response.
How can I check whether an asbestos removal contractor is licensed?
You can verify whether a contractor holds a current HSE asbestos licence by searching the HSE’s online register of licensed asbestos contractors, which is publicly available at hse.gov.uk. Any contractor undertaking high-risk removal work should be able to produce their licence documentation on request. If they cannot, do not allow the work to proceed.
Speak to Supernova About Your Asbestos Concerns
If you’re unsure whether work on your property has been carried out legally, or you need a professional survey before any building work begins, Supernova Asbestos Surveys can help. With over 50,000 surveys completed across the UK, we have the expertise and accreditation to give you a clear, accurate picture of your asbestos risk.
Call us on 020 4586 0680 or visit asbestos-surveys.org.uk to book a survey, arrange testing, or speak to one of our specialists about your situation. Don’t leave compliance to chance — get it confirmed by professionals.