All those living in a house built before the year 2000 have been issued a warning over a highly dangerous substance that could be lurking in walls, ceilings or your home's roof. Despite being fully banned in the UK in 1999, the material known as asbestos can still be found in many residential buildings, particularly those constructed between the 1950s and late 1980s. At the time, asbestos was widely used in construction because it was cheap, durable, fire-resistant and an effective insulator.

It was commonly used in roofing, flooring, pipe insulation, ceiling panels and cement products. Exposure to asbestos fibres has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Asbestos is disturbed when materials containing it are broken, damaged, or worked on, releasing microscopic fibers into the air.

Common actions causing disturbance include drilling, sawing, sanding, cutting, or breaking asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), such as old insulation, ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, or cement sheeting. If these fibres are inhaled, they can cause serious and often fatal lung health issues, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Simon Roberts, DIY and home maintenance expert at Saxton Blades, warned: "If your house was built after 2000, you don't need to worry about asbestos, as it was officially banned in the UK in 1999. However, for those in older properties, you'll want to check for signs.

"Just remember not to disturb anything to avoid the risk of releasing any fibres."

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also states: "Asbestos may be present in any house or building built before the year 2000 as it was widely used in a variety of building materials.

"The UKHSA does not recommend the DIY removal of asbestos without advice. If you find any asbestos which requires removal, you should contact your local council for more information about asbestos and its disposal."

Mr Roberts has shared tips on how to check if your home has asbestos and how to stay safe.

He said: "One of the first things is to check your garage roof. If the tiles are a corrugated grey material, there is a chance they could be asbestos cement sheets, which were widely used because they were lightweight, waterproof, and cheap.

"You should also watch out for flat panels, which could be asbestos insulating board, which contains even more asbestos. This material is softer, which means it's more easily damaged."

Mr Roberts added that asbestos insulating board can also be found in walls or around doors and can be easily mistaken for fiberboard.

"The only way to properly discern whether your house contains asbestos is to consult a professional.

"If you're worried that you and your house may be at risk, a surveyor can safely take a small sample under very controlled conditions and send it to an accredited laboratory for testing. Never try to remove asbestos yourself."

Anyone concerned about possible exposure is also encouraged to seek medical advice from a GP or NHS 111.