Attitudes to Residential Asbestos Assessments

Transcription

1 Attitudes to Residential Asbestos Assessments Conference presentation EY Sweeney contacts: Date: November 2015 Stuart Attwood, Head of Quantitative Research Page 1

2 Agenda Background and objectives Overview of the market Awareness and perceptions of asbestos Knowledge of asbestos in the home Attitudes to asbestos assessments Possible foundations for change EY Sweeney (a trading name of Ernst & Young) is accredited under the International Standard, ISO Page All 2 aspects of this study has been completed in accordance with the requirements of that scheme. Also please note that EY Sweeney s liability is limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation. A copy of the scheme can be obtained from us upon request.

3 Background and objectives Page 3

4 Research objectives Specific research objectives 1 Uncover and explore all attitudes and behaviours surrounding asbestos assessments in Australia among priority cohorts 2 Examine all issues surrounding current consumption of asbestos assessments in Australia among all relevant cohorts The overall strategic purpose of this project was defined as To uncover opportunities to increase professional asbestos assessments when purchasing a home 3 4 Understand all the factors that might drive change in relation to the uptake of asbestos assessments in the housing market Understand the practices of stakeholders such as real estate agents and property valuers when assessing the value of residential property containing asbestos Page 4

5 Methodology 6 stage research approach that consisted of 10 focus groups with home buyers 11 in-depth interviews with asbestos assessors 31 in-depth interviews with property valuers and real estate agents N=1,000 online surveys with homebuyers and people who have recently conducted DIY/intending to conduct DIY fully representative Research conducted between April and June 2015 Page 5

6 Overview of the market Page 6

7 Over one in ten property buyers will consider buying a property built before 1990 Home buyers Intended or recent property purchase (%) Purchased property last 2 years 19 Intend to purchase property in the next 2 years 24 Age of property (%) Brand new/ off the plan years old (built after 2000) years old (built after 1990) years old (built before 1990) Don't know/not sure Recent buyers: 22% Potential buyers: 13% Page 7 Base: All survey starters, n=6,617 S7. Please indicate which, if any, of the following you have done in the past 2 years? S8. And in the next 24806/ years are Attitudes you? S10. to Residential Roughly Asbestos how old Assessments is the property you have recently bought/are planning to buy? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

8 Nearly half of all renovators plan to undertake renovations on properties built before 1990 Renovators Intended or recent property purchase (%) Renovated in the last 2 years 37 Intend to renovate in the next 2 years 36 Age of property (%) Brand new/ off the plan years old (built after 2000) years old (built after 1990) Recent renovators: 47% Potential renovators: 47% 26+ years old (built before 1990) 46 Don't know/not sure 2 Page 8 Base: All survey starters, n=6,617 S7. Please indicate which, if any, of the following you have done in the past 2 years? S8. And in the next 24806/ years are Attitudes you? S13. to Residential Roughly Asbestos how old Assessments is the property you have recently renovated/are planning to renovate? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

9 Awareness and perceptions of asbestos Page 9

10 Awareness of asbestos is widespread and has been driven by social discourse Sources of awareness (%) The media 60 I ve heard of the older generation getting compensation claims and finally settling. (Sydney home buyer) Tradespeople (i.e. builders, plumbers, carpenters etc.) Government websites/publications Parents/other family member years and over: 44% I remember changing my bike pads when I was a child and they were asbestos. (Canberra real estate agent) Friends Partner Staff in hardware stores Other to 29 years: 41% Few Australians have developed awareness of asbestos through formal education Page 10 Base: All respondents, n=993, Male, n=485, Female, n=508 Q12. Where would you say your knowledge of asbestos comes from? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

11 The concept of asbestos carries intensely negative emotions but remains part of a wider fear load Is a health hazard to the DIY renovator Attitudes towards asbestos (Agree/strongly agree %) Comes in many forms Becomes more dangerous over time and with deterioration Is common in Australian homes Is dangerous in any form Too many other things kill you faster like smoking. People worry too much. There s fear but I don t think it s real. (Melbourne home buyer) There s so much fear in our lives and in the scale of fear where is asbestos? (Melbourne home buyer) Used to be a big issue, but not anymore Is rare 6 12 There s more chance of dying from a kangaroo on the road. (Canberra home buyer) Page 11 Base: All respondents, n=1,003 Q8. Please select how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following. Asbestos All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

12 Knowledge of asbestos in the home Page 12

13 While home owners are aware of asbestos, detailed knowledge of asbestos in the home is lacking Degree of confidence relating to asbestos knowledge (%) Your knowledge of where asbestos is in your home Your knowledge of how to manage asbestos in your home Your ability to identify asbestos in your home Your knowledge of what material containing asbestos looks like Confident + Very confident Neutral Not at all confident + Not very confident Page 13 Base: All respondents, n=383-1,003 Q11. Looking at the following statements, please select how confident you are in All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

14 Asbestos is typically believed to be outside the home Where asbestos can be found in the home (%) 18 to 29 years 30 to 39 years 40 to 49 years 50 years and over Loft (i.e. insulation material) House exterior (i.e. roof, gutters etc.) Backyard (i.e. sheds, garage, fences etc.) Bathroom, toilet, laundry (wet areas) Kitchen Living areas Page 14 Base: All respondents, n=1,003, 18 to 29 years, n=77, 30 to 49, n=186, 40 to 49 years, n=220, 50 years and Green font indicates significantly higher over, n=520 Q13. Thinking specifically about residential properties, where do you think asbestos could 24806/24840 be Attitudes to Residential Asbestos Assessments located? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data Red font indicates significantly lower

15 There is limited awareness that asbestos can be found under flooring Where asbestos can be found in the home (%) Renovators Home buyers Cement sheeting used in walls, ceilings and floor Roof insulation Garages and carports Lining under eaves Corrugated cement roofing Garden sheds Around hot water pipes Insulation in stoves I ve never seen anything on TV about lino. (Melbourne home buyer) Around or behind tiles Imitation brick cladding Artificial brick cladding Linoleum flooring Textured paint / coating Vinyl floor tiles Page 15 Base: All respondents, n=1,003, Renovator, n=602, Home buyer, n=401 Green font indicates significantly higher Q14. Looking at the list below, where specifically do you think asbestos could be found in or around the 24806/24840 home? Attitudes to Residential Asbestos Assessments Mentions <5% not shown All values shown in percentages. Weighted data Red font indicates significantly lower

16 Nearly all home buyers and renovators believe it is important to know if asbestos is present in a home Prior to purchasing (%) Prior to renovating (%) 3 9 Not at all/not very important 1 2 Neither important nor unimportant 89 Extremely/ very important 96 I d rather have a house without asbestos. (Melbourne home buyer) It makes me worry, I would want to get rid of it. (Adelaide home buyer) Better to sleep at night with no asbestos. (Sydney home buyer) If there s asbestos I want to know. (Sydney home buyer) I don t like any nasties. (Sydney home buyer) Clarification around who is responsible and qualified to conduct asbestos assessments is required Page 16 Base: All respondents, n=1,003 Q16. How important do you think it is to know whether there is asbestos in a home prior to purchasing? 24806/24840 Q18. How important Attitudes do to Residential you think Asbestos it is know Assessments whether there is asbestos in a home before undertaking renovations? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

17 Lack of understanding how to manage asbestos can drive fear Level of concern with asbestos in the home (%) I can t link it to an action. (Melbourne home buyer) Prolonged exposure will kill but not short. (Melbourne home buyer) People lived in those homes and lived a long life and didn t get affected and there was asbestos. (Sydney home buyer) Those who have asbestos in their home Those who do not have asbestos in their home or are intending to buy Not at all concerned Slightly concerned Somewhat concerned Moderately concerned Extremely concerned Education is needed around not only the risk, form and location of asbestos in the home but how owners can manage it Page 17 Base: Those who have asbestos in their home, n=214, Those who do not have asbestos in their home or are intending to buy, n=789 Q30. How concerned would you say you are about the asbestos in your home? Q31. How concerned would 24806/24840 you be if Attitudes asbestos to was Residential present Asbestos in your Assessments home or home you are intending to buy? All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

18 Attitudes to asbestos assessments Page 18

19 Home owners can not easily conceptualise an asbestos assessment From the qualitative research, it was apparent that the concept of an asbestos assessment is hazy for most Australians People were widely unaware of the concept of an assessment, although upon hearing the term, they can easily assume there are professionals who conduct asbestos removal I ve never heard of one. (Sydney home buyer) I think the Government removes it. (Melbourne home buyer) I ve never thought about it. (Sydney home buyer) I assume a building inspector will check for asbestos. Isn t that what they re paid to do? (Melbourne home buyer) Builders just remove it. (Sydney home buyer) Page 19

20 Once aware, home buyers and renovators had a fairly positive response to asbestos assessments Attitudes towards asbestos assessments (%) Help me to protect the health and wellbeing of my family Help me identify safe and unsafe areas to conduct DIY Offer piece of mind Help me to understand how to manage asbestos in my home Help me to better understand the health risks of asbestos Are already covered in building inspections Agree + Strongly agree Neither agree nor disagree Strongly disagree + Disagree Don t know Page 20 Misconceptions over building inspections mean some owners fail to recognise the value in Base: All respondents, n=1,003 Q56. conducting Please select how strongly a separate you agree or assessment disagree with each of the following statements. Asbestos assessments All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

21 Conducting assessments prior to purchase meets some resistance 1. Emotional Needs 2. Financial Risk 1. Emotional needs are a priority finding the most desirable house on all emotional levels 2. Financial risks come next getting the property at the right price 3. Health 3. Health hazards like lead paint and asbestos are a low priority We re not thinking 25 years down the track. (Melbourne home buyer) When you buy a home you re thinking about so many other things like the mortgage and I m looking at the structure. (Melbourne home buyer) In the beginning you re thinking about all the good things. (Sydney home buyer) Home buyers resent the idea of having to pay extra for asbestos assessments when the threat is not perceived to be immediate Page 21

22 Renovations are a key trigger to uptake of residential asbestos assessments Reasons for conducting an asbestos assessment (%) Had safety concerns / wanted more information 37 Planned to undertake renovations Recommended by a building inspector We get clients who come to us after ripping their asbestos backed lino floors on the weekend. They suspect something isn t right. (Brisbane asbestos assessor) Recommended by a tradesperson 19 Recommended by real estate agent Recommended by the council 7 7 People don t think about it until something happens, e.g. tradie knocks a hole in the wall. It s not on the list. (Melbourne asbestos assessor) Key triggers currently for conducting an asbestos assessment are generally more reactive than proactive Page 22 Base: Those with asbestos assessment completed by an asbestos assessor, n=132 Q41. Which of the following best describes why you chose to have an asbestos assessment All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

23 Protecting the family s wellbeing and offering peace of mind are strongest drivers of consideration Drivers of consideration (%) Help me to protect the health and wellbeing of my family 35 Offer peace of mind 34 Help me to better understand the health risks of asbestos 32 Help me to understand how to manage asbestos in my home Ensure the best resale price possible can be achieved Help me identify safe and unsafe areas to conduct DIY 23 Messaging that addresses and speaks to these sentiments to provide reassurance and peace of mind is likely to have the biggest impact on consideration of asbestos assessments Page 23 Base: All respondents, n=1,003 Drivers of asbestos assessment consideration (%) All values shown in percentages. Weighted data

24 Possible foundations for change Page 24

25 Potential strategies to increase the uptake of asbestos assessments INCREASING AWARENESS EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION ADDRESSING MYTHS It is important to raise awareness of where asbestos may be located in the home, particularly that it can be found under linoleum and tiles, and that asbestos comes in many forms including putty Most Australians are unaware of productive management strategies. Education of how to manage asbestos will help to empower home owners to face up to asbestos in their home Clarifying the myths and misconceptions is important, as knowledge is likely to be the only way to reduce the fear that drives denial Page 25

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