INSPECTRITE REPORTS - TERMS & CONDITIONS
Inspectrite's prepurchase building inspections are conducted in accordance with the Australian Standard for prepurchase building inspections, which is AS 4349.1 - 2007.
Inspectrite's prepurchase timber pest inspections are conducted in accordance with the Australian Standard for prepurchase timber pest inspections, which is AS 4349.3 - 2010.
Inspectrite will conduct inspections and provide reports in accordance with these standards and the terms and conditions detailed below.
These Australian Standards may be viewed at our offices by arrangement or purchased from Standards Australia.
By ordering and paying for the inspection, you agree that the inspection will be carried out in accordance with these terms and conditions, which define the scope and limitations of our inspections and reports.
In the case of cancellations, a full refund will only be provided if notice is given before 3pm on the prior business day. Where later notice of cancellation is given a $200.00 cancellation fee will apply.
| 1. | An inspection will be made of the building elements detailed by Appendix C of AS 4349.1-2007, unless the inspected tenancy is strata titled. Strata titled properties will be inspected in accordance with Appendix B of AS 4349.1-2007.
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| 2. | The purpose of the building inspection is to identify major defects, the incidence of minor defects and safety hazards associated with the property at the time of the inspection. The inspection and reporting is limited to Appendix C of AS4349.1-2007. |
| 3. | The building inspection report does not include an estimate of the cost for rectification of the Defects. The overall condition of this building has been compared to similarly constructed and reasonably maintained buildings of approximately the same age. Areas for Inspection shall cover all safe and accessible areas.
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| 4. | The building inspection shall comprise a visual assessment of the items listed in Appendix C to AS4349.1-2007 for the structures within 30 metres of the building and within the site boundaries including fences. |
| 5. | Subject to safe and reasonable access (See Definitions below) the building inspection report will normally report on the condition of each of the following areas:
The interior |
| 6. | The inspector will report individually on Major Defects and Safety Hazards evident and visible on the date and time of the inspection. The building inspection report will also provide a general assessment of the property and collectively comment on Minor Defects which would form a normal part of property maintenance. |
| 7. | Where a Major Defect has been identified, the inspector will give an opinion as to why it is a Major defect and specify its location.
Building Inspection and Report Limitations |
| 8. | The Inspector will conduct a non-invasive visual inspection which will be limited to those accessible areas and sections of the property to which Safe and Reasonable Access (see Definitions below) is both available and permitted on the date and time of the inspection. Areas where reasonable entry is denied to the inspector, or where safe and reasonable access is not available, are excluded from and do not form part of, the inspection. Those areas may be the subject of an additional inspection upon request following the provision or reasonable entry and access. |
| 9. | The building inspection WILL NOT involve any invasive inspection including cutting, breaking apart, dismantling, removing or moving objects including, but not limited to, roofing, wall and ceiling sheeting, ducting, foliage, mouldings, debris, roof insulation, sarking, sisalation, floor or wall coverings, sidings, fixtures, floors, pavers, furnishings, appliances or personal possessions. |
| 10. | The building inspection and report compares the inspected building with a building constructed to the generally accepted practice at the time and which has been maintained, so there has been no significant loss of strength and performance. |
| 11. | The building inspection excludes the inside of walls, between floors, inside skillion roofing, inside the eaves, behind stored goods in cupboards, and other areas that are concealed or obstructed. The inspector WILL NOT dig, gouge, force or perform any other invasive procedures. |
| 12. | The building inspection report is neither a certificate nor a warranty that the property complies with the requirements of any Act, regulation, ordinance, local law or by-law, or a warranty or an insurance policy against problems developing with the building in the future. |
| 13. | The building inspection WILL NOT look for or report on timber pest activity. If you have not ordered a timber pest inspection report to accompany your building inspection, Inspectrite will be happy to prepare one for you for an additional fee. |
| 14. | If structurally significant Timber Pest Damage is found then it will be reported. The inspector will only report on the damage which is visible. |
| 15. | Asbestos: No inspection for asbestos will be carried out at the property and no report on the presence or absence of asbestos will be provided. If during the course of the Inspection asbestos or materials containing asbestos happened to be noticed then this may be noted in the general remarks section of the report. If asbestos is noted as present within the property then you agree to seek advice from a qualified asbestos removal expert as to the amount and importance of the asbestos present and the cost sealing or of removal. If Timber Pest Damage is found then it will be reported. The inspector will only report on the damage which is visible. |
| 16. | Mould (mildew) and non-wood decay fungi disclaimer: No inspection or report will be made for Mould (Mildew) and non- wood decay fungi. |
| 17. | Magnesite flooring disclaimer: No inspection for Magnesite Flooring was carried out at the property and no report on the presence or absence of Magnesite Flooring is provided. You should ask the owner whether Magnesite Flooring is present and/or seek advice from a Structural Engineer. |
| 18. | Estimating disclaimer: Any estimates for the cost of improvements or repairs that are included within the report or provided by Inspectrite are nothing more than general advice provided in good faith. Inspectrite neither warrants nor guarantees that any such estimates will accurately reflect the true cost of the works. You indemnify Inspectrite against any claim for liability resulting from financial loss caused by the differences between provided cost estimates and the actual cost of works. |
| 19. | If the property to be inspected is occupied then you must be aware that furnishings or household items may be concealing evidence of problems, which may only be revealed when the items are moved or removed. |
| 20. | The inspection will not cover or report the items listed in Appendix D to AS4349.1-2007. |
| 21. | Where the property is a strata or similar title, only the interior and immediate exterior of the specified dwelling will be inspected by the inspector. The inspection will be as outlined in AS 4349.1-2007 Appendix B. Therefore it is advised that the client obtain an inspection of common areas. |
| 22. | The building inspection will not cover or report on swimming pools or spas. |
| 23. | The building inspection and report WILL NOT report on any defects which may not be apparent due to prevailing weather conditions at the time of the inspection. Such defects may only become apparent in differing weather conditions. |
| 24. | You agree that we cannot accept any liability for Our failure to report a defect that was concealed by the owner of the building being inspected and you agree to indemnify us for any failure to find such concealed defects. |
| 25. | Where our report recommends other types of inspections (for example an invasive inspection) then you should take immediate steps to have the recommended inspection carried out. If you fail to do so then you agree and accept that you may suffer financial loss, and you indemnify Inspectrite against any claim by you for recovery of any consequential loss that may be incurred. |
| 26. | The building report is prepared and presented, unless stated otherwise, under the assumption that the existing use of the building will continue as a Residential Property. |
| 1. | The purpose of the timber pest inspection report is to provide advice relating to timber pest activity at the property. |
| 2. | Pre-purchase Timber Pest Inspections will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Australian Standard AS 4349.3-2010 Inspection of Buildings Part 3: Timber Pest Inspections. |
| 3. | A copy of the Australian Standard AS 4349.3 may be viewed at our office by arrangement or purchased from Standards Australia. |
| 4. | The timber pest inspection includes inspection for Termites, Borers and Fungal Decay. Termite only inspections are to Australian Standard AS3660.2-2000 and are NOT recommended for pre-purchase inspections. |
| 5. | The timber pest inspection is a non-invasive visual inspection and will be limited to those areas and sections of the property to which Reasonable Access (see definitions below) is both available and permitted on the date and time of Inspection. |
| 6. | The inspector may use a probe or screwdriver to tap and sound some timbers and may use a sharp knife to carry out some splinter testing on structural timbers in the sub-floor and/or roof void. Splinter testing WILL NOT be carried out where the inspection is being carried out for a Client who is a purchaser and not the owner of the property being inspected. The inspector may use a moisture meter to check moisture levels in walls that back onto wet areas such as showers etc. Other than these areas, the moisture meter will not be used on other surfaces except where the visual inspection indicates that there may be a need to further test the area. |
| 7. | The timber pest inspection WILL NOT involve any invasive inspection including cutting, breaking apart, dismantling, removing or moving objects including, but not limited to, roofing, wall and ceiling sheeting, ducting, foliage, mouldings, debris, roof insulation, sarking, sisalation, floor or wall coverings, sidings, fixtures, floors, pavers, furnishings, appliances or personal possessions. |
| 8. | The inspector CANNOT see or inspect inside walls, between floors, inside skillion roofing, inside the eaves, behind stored goods in cupboards, or inside other areas that are concealed or obstructed. Insulation in the roof void may conceal the ceiling timbers and make inspection of the area unsafe. The inspector WILL NOT dig, gouge, force or perform any other invasive procedures. An invasive inspection will not be performed unless a separate contract is entered into. |
| 9. | If the property to be inspected is occupied then you should be aware that furnishings or household items may be concealing evidence of Timber Pests, which may only be revealed when the items are moved or removed. In some case the concealment may be deliberate. If you are the purchaser and not the owner of the property to be inspected, then you should obtain a statement from the owner detailing any timber pest activity or damage to the property that is known to them and what, if any, treatments have been carried out to the property. It is important to obtain copies of any paperwork issued and the details of any repairs carried out. Ideally the information obtained should be given to the inspector prior to the inspection being conducted. |
| 10. | The timber pest inspection and resulting report will be confined to reporting on the discovery, or non discovery, of infestation and/or damage caused by subterranean and dampwood termites (white ants), borers of seasoned timber and wood decay fungi (rot), present on the date and time of the Inspection. |
| 11. | The timber pest inspection will not cover any other pests and the Report will not comment on them. Dry wood termites (Family: KALOTERMITIDAE) and European House Borer (Hylotrupes bujulus Linnaeus) will be excluded from the Inspection. |
| 12. | The timber pest inspection will report any evidence of a termite treatment that happens to be found. Where evidence of a treatment is reported, then the Client should assume that the treatment was applied as a curative and not as a preventative. You should obtain a statement from the owner as to any treatments that have been carried out to the property. It is important to obtain copies of any paperwork issued. |
| 13. | Mould: Mildew and non wood decay fungi are commonly known as Mould and is not considered a Timber Pest but may be an indicator of poor ventilation or the presence of termites, wood decay or water leaks. Mould and their spores may cause health problems or allergic reactions such as asthma and dermatitis in some people.
Timber Pest Inspection Report Limitations |
| 14. | Nothing contained in the timber pest report shall be construed to imply that any inaccessible or partly inaccessible area(s) or section(s) of the property are not, or have not been, infested by termites or timber pests. Accordingly the Report will not guarantee that an infestation and/or damage does not exist in any inaccessible or partly inaccessible areas or sections of the property. Nor can it guarantee that future infestation of Timber Pests will not occur or be found. |
| 15. | If the property to be inspected is occupied then you must be aware that furnishings or household items may be concealing evidence of problems, which may only be revealed when the items are moved or removed. |
| 16. | The timber pest report will not state the extent of any timber pest damage. If any evidence of timber pest activity and/or damage is reported either in the structure(s) or in the grounds of the property, then it is possible that there may be some concealed damage within the building(s). An invasive timber pest inspection should be carried out and you should arrange for a qualified person such as a Builder, Engineer, or Architect to carry out a structural inspection to determine the full extent of the damage and the extent of repairs that may be required. |
| 17. | If timber pest activity and/or damage are found within the structures or the grounds of the property, then damage may exist in concealed areas, eg framing timbers. In this case an invasive inspection is strongly recommended. Damage may only be found when wall linings, cladding or insulation are removed to reveal previously concealed timber. You agree that Inspectrite is neither responsible nor liable for the repair of any damage whether disclosed by the report or not. |
Our reports may not be sold or provided to any third party without our express written permission. If we give our permission it may be subject to conditions such as payment of a further fee by the other person and agreement from the other person to comply with this clause. However, we may sell the Report to any other Person although there is no obligation for us to do so.
Third parties relying on Inspectrite's reports without our expressed permission release Inspectrite from any and all claims, actions, proceedings, judgments, damages, losses, interest, costs and expenses of whatever nature that the Person may have at any time hereafter arising from the unauthorised provision or sale of the Report by you to a Person without Our express written permission.
Inspectrite's clients indemnify us in respect of any and all liability, including all claims, actions, proceedings, judgments, damages, losses, interest, costs and expenses of any nature, which may be incurred by, brought, made or recovered against us arising directly or indirectly from the unauthorised provision or sale of our reports by clients to a third party without our express written permission.
In the event of any dispute or claim arising out of, or relating to the Inspection or the Report, you must notify us as soon as possible of the dispute or claim by email, fax or mail. You must allow Inspectrite to reinspect the property within twenty eight (28) days of your notification to us, and allow us to fully investigate the complaint. You will be provided with a written response to your dispute or claim within twenty eight (28) days of the date of the inspection.
You should read and understand the following definitions of words used in these Terms and Conditions. This will help you understand what is involved in a property and building inspection, the difficulties faced by the inspector and the contents of the Report which we will provide to you following the Inspection.
Acceptance Criteria: The Building shall be compared with a building which was constructed at approximately the same time, using practices which were generally accepted as normal for that time and that the property has received maintenance to ensure that the intended strength and serviceability of the building have not significantly deteriorated over time. Access hole (cover) means a hole in the structure allowing safe entry to an area.
Accessible area is any area of the property and structures allowing the inspector safe and reasonable access within the scope of the inspection.
Active means live timber pests were sighted during the inspection.
Building Element means a part of a building performing a particular function either singularly or in conjunction with other such parts.
Client means the person(s) or other legal entity for which the inspection is to be carried out. If ordered by the person(s)'s agent then it is agreed that the agent represents the person(s) and has the authority to act for and on their behalf. (See also "You/Your" below)
Defect means a variation or fault in material or a component or assembled element that deviates from its intended appearance or function.
High moisture readings means a reading on a moisture meter that is higher that the norm for other parts of the structure. Such high reading should be investigated by invasive means as the presence could indicate a leak or may indicate timber pest activity and damage. Inactive means that no active (see definition above) timber pests were detected but evidence such as workings, damage, mudding or exit holes is found at the time of the inspection.
Inspector means Inspectrite Pty Limited. (See also "Our/Us/We" below.) Limitation means any factor that prevents full achievement of the purpose of the inspection.
Major Defect means a defect of such significance that without correction would not avoid Safety Concerns, loss of the intended practical performance of the building element or an additional decline in the existing condition of the property inspected.
Minor Defect means a defect which is not a Major Defect.
Others means any company, partnership or individual other than Inspectrite, or Inspectrite's authorised officers, agents or employees.
Our/Us/We means the company, partnership or individual named below that you have requested to carry out the property inspection and report.
Person means any individual, company, partnership or association who is not a Client.
Property means the structures, gardens, trees, fences etc up to thirty (30) metres from the exterior walls of the main building but within the boundaries of the land on which the main building is erected. Unless you specifically order in writing that structures, gardens, trees and fences etc outside the thirty (30) metres from the exterior walls of the main building be inspected, no such inspection will be carried out.
Report means the document and any attachments issued to you by us following Our inspection of the property.
Structural Inspection means the inspection shall comprise visual assessment of accessible areas of the property to identify major defects to the building structure and to form an opinion regarding the general condition of the structure of the property. The Report will not include those items noted in Clause A3 of AS 4349.1-2007 e.g. Condition of roof coverings, partition walls, cabinetry, doors, trims, fencing, minor structures, ceiling linings, windows, non-structural & serviceability damp issues, rising damp, condensation etc.
Reasonable Access - means only areas to which reasonable access is available are inspected. The Australian Standard AS 3660 refers to AS 4349.3-2010 which defines reasonable access. Access will not be available where there are safety concerns, or obstructions, or the space available is less than the following:
| Roof void - the dimensions of the access hole should be at least 500mm x 400mm, and, reachable by 3.6 M ladder, and, there is at least 600mm x 600mm of space to crawl.
Roof exterior - must be accessible by a 3.6m ladder. Subfloor - Access is normally not available where dimensions are less than 500mm x 400mm for the access hole and less than 400mm of crawl space beneath the lowest bearer, or, less than 500mm beneath the lowest part of any concrete floor. The inspector shall determine whether sufficient space is available to allow safe access to confined areas. Reasonable access - does not include the use of destructive or invasive inspection methods. Nor does reasonable access include cutting or making access traps, or moving heavy furniture or stored goods. Safe and reasonable access - Is at the inspector's discretion and will take into account conditions existing on the property at the time of the inspection. |
Report means the report issued to you by us following Our inspection of the property.
Termites means subterranean and dampwood termites (white ants) and does not include dry wood termites.
Third party/Third parties - Any entity, being a natural person or otherwise, that has not purchased or paid for an inspection report on which they rely from Inspectrite.
You/Your means the party to which Inspectrite's invoice for the inspection is addressed and any party identified by the report as the client.
If there is anything in these terms and conditions that you do not understand, you must contact us by phone or in person prior to the inspection and have us explain and clarify the matter to your satisfaction.
You agree that paying Inspectrite for your inspection indicates that you have read and understood these terms and conditions and that the inspection will be carried out in accordance with them. You agree to pay for the inspection prior to delivery of the report.
Additional inspection requirements requested by you may incur additional expense in regard to the cost of the inspection.