Managing asbestos within a single building can be challenging.
Managing asbestos across dozens—or even hundreds—of buildings is an entirely different responsibility.
Many organisations inherit properties over time through acquisitions, expansion or redevelopment. As a result, they often find themselves managing buildings constructed during different periods, maintained by different contractors and supported by varying levels of asbestos documentation.
One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that if every building has an asbestos survey somewhere on file, the portfolio is adequately managed.
In reality, successful asbestos management is about creating a consistent strategy across the entire estate.
After more than 22 years working with organisations managing complex property portfolios, we’ve found that the most successful clients are those who treat asbestos management as part of their overall asset management strategy rather than an isolated compliance exercise.
What Does the Law Say?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 places duties on those responsible for managing non-domestic premises to identify and manage asbestos risks appropriately.
For organisations with multiple properties, this means ensuring that information is:
- Accurate
- Current
- Accessible
- Communicated to those who need it
- Reviewed when buildings or planned works change
The challenge is not simply obtaining information—it is managing it consistently across an entire estate.
Why Multi-Site Portfolios Are Different
Every building has its own history.
Some may have:
- Different construction dates
- Different refurbishment histories
- Different asbestos registers
- Different maintenance contractors
- Different occupancy levels
- Different risk profiles
Without consistent procedures, portfolio management quickly becomes fragmented.
What Good Portfolio Management Looks Like
1. Standardised surveys and reporting
Using consistent methodologies across properties allows organisations to compare information and prioritise actions more effectively.
2. Accurate asbestos registers
An asbestos register should be a working document rather than an archived report.
It should reflect the building as it exists today.
3. Planned reviews
Buildings evolve.
As maintenance and refurbishment works take place, asbestos information should be reviewed to ensure it remains relevant.
4. Contractor communication
Before intrusive work begins, contractors should have access to relevant asbestos information.
One breakdown in communication across a large estate can have significant consequences.
5. Estate-wide planning
The most successful organisations integrate asbestos management into wider asset management, maintenance planning and capital investment programmes.
Common Mistakes We See
Every building is managed differently
Large organisations sometimes inherit inconsistent systems across sites.
Standardisation reduces complexity and risk.
Historic surveys are assumed to be sufficient
Older surveys remain valuable, but they should be reviewed whenever significant works are planned.
Information exists but cannot be accessed
An asbestos register that cannot be found when needed provides little practical value.
Asbestos is considered only when projects begin
The best-performing estates consider asbestos during planning rather than during construction.
What We’ve Learned in 22 Years
The organisations that manage asbestos most effectively are rarely those with the newest buildings.
They are the organisations with the best information and the clearest processes.
We’ve worked with clients responsible for extensive property portfolios, and one lesson consistently stands out:
Consistency is more valuable than complexity.
A simple, well-managed process implemented across an entire estate is often more effective than multiple disconnected systems.
The Core Surveys Perspective
At Core Surveys, we believe asbestos management should support better estate management.
Our role is not simply to provide surveys but to help organisations create reliable information that supports long-term decision-making.
Because we undertake asbestos surveys, sample analysis and air monitoring through one experienced team, we provide consistency across projects and across portfolios.
Whether supporting a university campus, NHS estate, local authority, commercial landlord or national business, our philosophy remains the same:
Reliable information, applied consistently, reduces risk and supports better property decisions.
If This Were Our Portfolio…
If we were responsible for a large property portfolio, we would:
- Maintain a current asbestos register for every property.
- Review asbestos information before every refurbishment project.
- Standardise reporting across all buildings.
- Ensure contractors receive relevant asbestos information before work begins.
- Build asbestos management into wider estate planning.
- Work with a UKAS accredited consultancy capable of supporting multiple sites consistently.
Our Recommendations
Based on our experience, we recommend that organisations managing multiple properties:
- Develop a portfolio-wide asbestos strategy.
- Standardise procedures across all sites.
- Review asbestos information regularly.
- Plan surveys before refurbishment projects.
- Maintain effective communication between estates teams and contractors.
- View asbestos management as a long-term risk management process rather than a one-off compliance exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every building within a portfolio require the same survey?
Not necessarily. The appropriate survey depends on the building, its use and any planned works. However, having a consistent management strategy across the portfolio is highly beneficial.
How often should asbestos information be reviewed?
It should be reviewed whenever significant changes occur to a building and as part of ongoing estate management.
Why is standardisation important?
Consistent reporting and procedures make it easier to manage risks, prioritise actions and communicate information across large estates.
Can Core Surveys support organisations with multiple sites?
Yes. Core Surveys regularly works with organisations managing extensive property portfolios, providing asbestos surveys, sample analysis and air monitoring through one coordinated team.
Why Organisations Choose Core Surveys
- Over 22 years of asbestos industry experience
- UKAS accredited for asbestos surveys, sample analysis and air monitoring
- Surveys, testing and air monitoring delivered under one roof
- In-house laboratory facilities
- Dedicated project coordinators
- Offices in East Sussex and South Wales
- Nationwide capability
- Experience supporting NHS organisations, universities, local authorities, housing providers, commercial landlords, national contractors and the Ministry of Defence
Our objective is not simply to identify asbestos—it is to help organisations build a practical, consistent and long-term asbestos management strategy across their entire estate.
Core Principle
The strongest asbestos management strategies aren’t built building by building—they’re built portfolio by portfolio, with consistent information and consistent processes.
Contact Core Surveys
If you’re responsible for managing multiple properties and would like expert advice on developing a portfolio-wide asbestos strategy, speak to the experienced team at Core Surveys. We’ll help you standardise your approach, improve decision-making and provide practical guidance based on more than 22 years of real-world experience.