Man made slates

Having lived in our house for over 40 years I was told today by a person cleaning our gutters that the slates on our roof most likely contained asbestos fibres which was the norm when the house was built in the thirties. Does this factor affect the value of the house as i have never heard it being mentioned.

It may do if potential buyers engage a surveyor that knows what they're doing. It can be very expensive to get rid of these as there are special precautions that must be taken and only a limited number of companies licensed to remove/dispose of them.

As per Leo, however it might add an extra 7k onto the refurb project that most houses undergo these days when sold so I wouldn't concern myself too much with it.
If the house is otherwise not in need of a refurb, then its less of an issue.

Yes, it may come up in discussion in a buyers market but I would worry about them: untouched, they are not a problem.

As a matter of interest are the gutters and down pipes of a newer vintage, most of these houses I see have asbestos gutters and down pipes and exposed sewer pipes.

This might help
http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_...sbestos_Information_Sheet.51734.shortcut.html

Yes down pipes etc ok. I am amazed the number of people who have these slate roofs and not aware o the abestos content