The β decay properties of very neutron rich nuclei 86 Ge and 86 As were measured at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Spectroscopic information on new excited states in 86 As and in 86 Se was obtained and is interpreted within an advanced shell model approach. These calculations, previously explaining well the structure of 84 Ge and 85 Ge, are not able to reproduce all the experimentally-determined features of the measured level schemes of 86 As and 86 Se. The Gamow-Teller decay of 86 Ge and 86 As is also investigated in a shell-model framework. The fission yield for 86 Ge is discussed.