If this is your kitchen at home, then CDM does apply, but you as a domestic client have no responsibilities.  It is up to the contractor to make sure it is all done safely.

Hi Pamela

Sound advice from Kate and Holliday.

Assuming that there is more than one contractor doing this work, CDM will apply but it is up to others to sort out the CDM issues, as you count as a "domestic client". For information, L153 is the free download guidance from the Health and Safety Executive.

The one thing that makes me nervous is the redundant stuff that has been boxed in for many years. 

Depends on what "many years" means but if the boxing in was done before 1999, it is far from unlikely that Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) were used for whatever reason. Now the people who do this for a living all the time may be able to easily reassure you that what they are removing can reasonably be assumed not to include ACMs but it might be worth asking the question.

I am in a similar situation at present. We are due to get an upgrade to the electrical supply into our building. Constructed in 1880 when ACMs had not become popular, but converted into flats in the 1960s by which time ACMs were in vogue - so I am concerned about some elements of what needs to be done to put much larger openings into parts of the building structure. Some bits are very obviously NOT ACMs - e.g. drilling a larger hole through a stone staircase, other penetrations more problematic as could be cutting through ACM fire protection.

The judge only looks at the case brought before them, so unless a claim was made against the property  owner there is no case for the owner to answer. I am now trying to imagine a scenario where a claim is being made against the owner of property for the action of  a contractor working on that property ( remember CDM is about criminal law) and unless there is evidence that the property owner directed a  contractor to work in particular way there is no case. The property owners qualifications are not relevant.

Edited by user 20 January 2022 16:46:20(UTC)  | Reason: spellings

I don't know about anyone else but if I employ a contractor to do a job in my house I never require all the documents they would need if working for a client. There is a lot of stuff I let go, nothing dangerous I must add, like using a power saw outside in the garden without extraction, or perhaps wearing the wrong type of goggles, or dust mask (if they even wear a dust mask).  I do always ask if they are insured.

If the contractor and I have a discussion about how he should tackle an awkward part of the job and I come up with a suggestion that he agrees with, then something goes wrong and he decides to sue me then I think the judge would say "I ought to have known" because of my H&S experience nd qualifications.

It could be that I sue him for damages if my suggestion leads to damage to my property.