Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts
Asbestos Siding
If I am purchasing a home as income property and it has asbestos siding. It is not chipping or peeling, I just wanted to cover it with vinyl siding. What would I need to do? Do I have to remove the asbestos siding first or can I side over it with vinyl? Can I paint it? If I have to remove it, how much would it cost and how could I dispose of it?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Asbestos Siding
The rule in treating asbestos for rental of a property is to remove it or encapsulate it. If the cost is not prohibitive, I would replace the siding now. I would suggest you get an estimate for the removal and replacement and factor it into your price for the home.
I cannot tell you the cost but a siding company should be able to do it without much difficulty, since they frequently encounter this problem.
If you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Re: Asbestos Siding
As a business decision and as legal decision, unless you want to remove the asbestos, I would hope the seller is giving it away; this is a legal and financial gamble: the decision is yours. There are specialized licensed companies that will give you a quote.