> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Firms Offer Fake Asbestos Certificates via Video Call - URL: https://barna.news/firms-offer-fake-asbestos-certificates/ - Published: 2026-10-17T11:33:11.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-17T11:33:11.000Z - Description: Companies in Catalunya are offering fraudulent asbestos certificates for property sales, using only photos and video calls. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: crime ## Fraudulent Asbestos Certificates Sold Online "Photos via WhatsApp, 10-minute video call, and PDF certificate in 24 hours." This is how some companies are advertising the provision of asbestos certificates online, despite the requirement under Catalunya's Asbestos Eradication Law for in-person inspections. Since 3 October 2026, it has been mandatory to provide an asbestos certificate when selling or renting properties built before 2002, when the material was banned. The certificate, which typically costs around €200, is designed to identify potential asbestos-containing materials in homes. However, EL PERIÓDICO has verified that at least three firms are offering to issue the document remotely, without a technician visiting the property. --- ## Regulators Warn Remote Checks Are Invalid The Agència de Residus de Catalunya (ARC) has stated that a physical inspection is required and that photographs or video calls are insufficient to assess all potential asbestos elements. The agency clarifies that technicians must visit the property in person, even though the law has not yet been detailed in a formal regulation. The Col·legi de l’Arquitectura Tècnica de Barcelona (Cateb) supports this, stating that issuing a certificate on visible asbestos requires an on-site inspection by a qualified technician. "The in-person visit is essential to verify that the inspected property corresponds to the one identified in the certificate, to check for the possible presence of asbestos, and to assess its condition and potential risks to people," sources from the college said. > "You cannot perform a visual inspection remotely; it is necessary to go to the building and check for cement-bonded asbestos or other materials suspected of containing asbestos," , Xavier Asensio, director of Desacomplet ### Price Differences Fuel Unfair Competition In-person inspections typically cost between €250 and €300, depending on travel. Some remote services are offered for around €150, creating a financial incentive to bypass proper checks. Txell, from GCamianto, a company that conducts legitimate inspections with licensed surveyors, called the practice "fraud" and "unfair competition." Josep Farré of Amiant Tècnic dismissed mobile-based reviews: "For me, doing it with a mobile phone makes no sense. It's bad practice." ### Reliability Concerns in Property Transactions Doubts have already emerged in real estate deals. In Badalona, a buyer received a certificate stating no asbestos was present in a flat located in a building clad with asbestos-containing panels. The result has raised alarm among locals familiar with the building’s construction. Montserrat Vilardaga of the Technical Consulting Office at the Col·legi de l'Arquitectura Tècnica de Catalunya stressed that asbestos risk must be assessed at the building level, not just within individual flats. She noted that Building Technical Inspection (ITE) reports already include asbestos checks, and that internal inspections may miss external elements like downpipes, roofs, or insulation. The Generalitat confirms that a basic certificate issued during a flat transfer may only cover the unit itself, not communal areas. Asensio warned that asbestos can be present in boilers, ducts, fireproofing, and expansion joints, materials not easily identifiable without physical access and sampling. - Asbestos Eradication Law in force since 3 October 2026 - Certificate required for property sales or rentals of buildings pre-2002 - Physical inspection mandated by ARC and technical colleges - Remote certificates via video call are fraudulent - Full building assessment recommended, not just individual units Residents and buyers are advised to verify that any asbestos certificate was issued following an on-site inspection by a qualified technician. More information is available on the [Agència de Residus de Catalunya website](https://residus.gencat.cat/ca/ambits%5Fdactuacio/tipus%5Fde%5Fresidu/amiant/administracions-publiques/presentacio-del-cens-municipal-damiant-eacat/?ref=barna.news). --- *Primary sources:* [*exteriors.gencat.cat*](https://exteriors.gencat.cat/ca/ambits-dactuacio/afers%5Fexteriors/delegacions%5Fgovern/franca/actualitat/not%5F241203%5Fasbestos?ref=barna.news)*,* [*residus.gencat.cat*](https://residus.gencat.cat/ca/ambits%5Fdactuacio/tipus%5Fde%5Fresidu/amiant/administracions-publiques/presentacio-del-cens-municipal-damiant-eacat/?ref=barna.news)*,* [*formaciooberta.eapc.gencat.cat*](https://formaciooberta.eapc.gencat.cat/contingutsdelscursos/ami/unitat%5F3/inici.html?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by elperiodico.com, idealista.com, elperiodico.cat, gipe.es, El Periódico Barcelona.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [False Scam Alerts Spread in Santa Coloma](https://barna.news/false-scam-alerts-spread-in-santa-coloma/) - [Two sought over armed robberies in Barcelona, Sant Cugat](https://barna.news/two-sought-over-armed-robberies-in/)