Guide
Licensed vs non-licensed asbestos work: what the law requires
Updated
The single biggest factor in an asbestos removal quote is which legal class the work falls into. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 split jobs into licensed, notifiable non-licensed and non-licensed, and the price gaps between them are large.
The three classes of work
- Licensed work
- Higher-risk work: sprayed asbestos coatings, loose-fill insulation, most asbestos lagging on pipes and boilers, and most work with asbestos insulating board (AIB). It must be done by a contractor holding an HSE licence, notified to HSE 14 days before it starts, and typically involves a sealed enclosure, air monitoring and independent clearance testing. That overhead is why small licensed jobs still cost thousands.
- Notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW)
- A middle class: no licence needed, but the job must be notified to the regulator and workers put under health surveillance. It typically applies where lower-risk materials are significantly damaged or will be broken up during removal. Confirm the classification of your specific job with the contractor; the boundary is method-dependent.
- Non-licensed work
- Lower-risk work on materials where the fibres are firmly bound: asbestos cement (garage roofs, corrugated sheets), vinyl floor tiles, and textured coatings in good condition, removed with the right method. Competent general asbestos contractors handle this, and prices are far lower.
The classes come from the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012; HSE's licensing pages explain which materials require a licensed contractor. If a firm offers to strip pipe lagging without a licence, that is not a bargain, it is illegal.
What it means for your quote
- Cement garage roof: non-licensed, typically £800–£2,500 all-in (typical 2026 quotes), see garage roof costs.
- Artex ceiling: usually non-licensed, typically £50–£100 per m2, see artex options.
- AIB panels, lagging, sprayed coating: licensed, priced per job, with notification, enclosure and a four-stage clearance before the area is handed back. Budget thousands, even for one room.
- Not sure what you have? Identification comes first: a sample test or survey names the material and the class of work before anyone prices it. For what identification costs, see asbestos survey costs.
Checking a contractor properly
- For licensed work, ask for the HSE licence itself and check the dates; licences are time-limited.
- For any work, ask for the waste carrier registration and where the waste is going; your waste, your duty of care.
- Ask what the price includes: disposal, reinstatement, and (for licensed work) the independent clearance certificate.