Casa supports DIY SOS Southampton project with free asbestos survey

Casa Environmental Services is proud to have supported DIY SOS in Southampton, providing a pro bono asbestos refurbishment survey ahead of a home transformation for a family who had faced distress at the hands of a rogue builder. Our involvement helped the project team plan their work with a clear understanding of asbestos risks, laying the groundwork for the renovation to proceed safely.

The project brought together skilled tradespeople, businesses and volunteers to help Ahmed and Rifat Ali and their three children. Filmed last year, their story will be shown on BBC One at 8pm on Tuesday 6th October 2026. For Casa, it was an opportunity to contribute our expertise to a project with a lasting impact on a family’s everyday life.

A fresh start for a Southampton family

Ahmed and Rifat, who are both deaf, had paid £72,000 towards an extension to their Bitterne home. However, the abandoned renovation left the family living in difficult conditions, with much of their house unusable. What should have improved their home instead became a source of stress and uncertainty.

DIY SOS stepped in to help turn that situation around. With support from the wider community, the project focused on giving the family a finished home where they could enjoy life together again. Every contribution played a part, from the planning carried out before construction to the practical work that brought the transformation to life.

We were pleased to offer our asbestos surveying services free of charge. By supporting the preparations, Casa could help the team move towards its goal while keeping safety in view.

Our asbestos survey for DIY SOS

Our Senior Asbestos Surveyor, Jamie, undertook the asbestos refurbishment survey before the project went ahead. The survey provided information about asbestos-containing materials (ACM), within the areas relevant to the planned works.

A refurbishment survey helps identify asbestos that could be disturbed during building work, including materials hidden within the fabric of a property. This gives those planning and carrying out the renovation the information they need to address potential risks before work begins. On a project involving several trades, sharing that information supports a coordinated approach to safety.

Ahead of the survey, our involvement included liaison with the client and residents to minimise disruption. Understanding the work required and communicating with the people affected were important parts of our contribution. For a family already dealing with an unfinished renovation, a considerate approach mattered as much as the technical work.

Helping the team plan safe construction

The findings from Casa’s survey enabled the DIY SOS project team to develop its Construction Phase Plan and determine how asbestos risks would be controlled. This plan is a requirement of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015, and sets out the arrangements for managing health and safety during the construction work.

Having survey information available in advance meant the team could consider asbestos alongside the proposed renovation. Where required, the approach could include arranging safe removal of ACMs before work affected them. Alternatively, where appropriate, the team could plan work around materials without disturbing them.

Those decisions depend on the materials present, the work proposed and the risks involved. Our role was to provide the survey information to support informed planning. This helped the project team establish how to approach the renovation while protecting those involved.

The finished rooms are the most visible part of a home transformation. Behind them sits preparation, including surveys and careful coordination. We were proud to contribute to that stage of the project and help support the work that followed.

Celebrating the completed home

At the end of the project, our Branch Manager, Jake, and Head of Business Development, Laura, were delighted to be invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It gave them the opportunity to see the completed renovation and celebrate alongside those who had helped make it happen.

Jake and Laura were thrilled to see the family in their well-deserved renovated home. After such a difficult experience, the completion of the project marked a new chapter for Ahmed, Rifat and their children.

For everyone at Casa, their visit was a reminder of the people behind the project. Contributing expertise can make a difference far beyond the work itself, particularly when businesses and volunteers come together with a shared purpose.

Watch DIY SOS on BBC One

We would like to thank the DIY SOS team and everyone who contributed their time, skills and resources to this Southampton project. We are proud to have played a part and look forward to seeing the family’s story shared with viewers.

Tune in to BBC One at 8pm on Tuesday 6th October 2026 to watch DIY SOS and see the transformation.

If you are planning refurbishment works, contact Casa Environmental Services to discuss an asbestos survey suited to your project. Identifying asbestos risks helps you make informed decisions before construction begins.