How to Verify an Asbestos Contractor's HSE Licence
Step-by-step guide to checking a contractor's licence on the HSE register — and what to look for.
Why verification matters
An HSE asbestos removal licence is not self-declared — it is issued by the Health and Safety Executive after an assessment of the contractor's competence, management systems, and safety record. It can be suspended or revoked if standards fall.
Hiring an unlicensed contractor for licensed work is illegal. Worse, it leaves you — as the client — potentially liable, and creates a real health risk for workers and occupants.
The good news: verification takes less than two minutes using the HSE's public register.
Step 1: Get the licence number
Ask your contractor for their HSE asbestos removal licence number before any work begins. A legitimate contractor will have no hesitation in providing it. The number typically looks like: ASB/12345/XX
If the contractor cannot or will not provide a licence number, do not proceed.
Step 2: Search the HSE register
Go to: hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/licensed-contractors.htm
Use the search box to find the contractor by name or licence number. The register is updated regularly by the HSE.
You are looking for: • The contractor's trading name matches what you have been quoted • The licence status shows as active • The licence expiry date is in the future • The address broadly matches what you expect
Step 3: Check the expiry date
HSE asbestos licences are granted for up to three years and must be renewed before expiry. An expired licence means the contractor is no longer legally permitted to carry out licensed asbestos removal work.
Always check the expiry date, even if the contractor is listed — the register does not always remove expired entries immediately.
What AsbestosIndex does for you
Every contractor listed on AsbestosIndex is verified against the HSE register on a weekly basis. You can see the licence number, current status, and the date we last checked on every profile page.
We also flag contractors whose licences are expiring within 90 days so you can make an informed choice. Contractors are removed from search results if their licence lapses.
You can still verify independently using the HSE register link shown on every contractor's profile — we actively encourage it.
Find a verified contractor and check their licence
All contractors verified against the HSE Licensed Contractors Register.
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