What You Need To Know About Inspections For Dilapidation
Sometimes the worst house on the street can be an appealing buy to a new home owner who has dreams of renovating a shamble into something house dreams are made of. But before a purchase is made, it’s important to consider what building activity has happened on the neighbouring sides of your potential buy.
If there has been building activity, the houses on either side have been renovated extensively, or a neighbouring property has been demolished and rebuilt, it will be recommended to get a dilapidation report. The inspection and report will check for damage that could have been caused from the building activity from the neighbouring properties.
What is a dilapidation report?
A dilapidation report is a document that reports on the condition of the property prior to construction works occurring in the area. The report will make a note of existing structural damage prior to renovation works commencing. Your local council may require a dilapidation report before development consent is given. The report can prevent a legal situation where home owners can claim building works around their property have caused structural damage.
A dilapidation report on an old or damaged home is not only an important document, but it’s a necessary inspection for the owners to know what they are putting on the market should they choose to sell. The report also gives potential buyers an idea of what they are purchasing. This can impact on the purchase price, especially if the property needs to be demolished or have extensive renovations done in order to be inhabitable.
What is a dilapidation report used for?
A dilapidation report is often done prior to works that include demolition, excavation, trench digging, compaction of earth, drilling or boring around an existing property. The report can document the extent of cracks caused by these works.
Old homes or properties that have stood during development works on neighbouring properties should have a dilapidation inspection done.
Any property that has surrounding works in action should have a dilapidation report carried out prior to the commencement of the works.
If the work being done by a commercial contractor is going to affect a number of properties, they may need to have a contract with an inspection firm that can conduct a number of dilapidation inspections. Hundreds or thousands of properties can be affected by new infrastructure works. The dilapidation report can prevent any future litigation should property owners claim their properties were damaged by the construction activity.
What does a dilapidation report record?
The dilapidation report will involve an inspection that records the condition of the existing defects before building works are commenced. A follow up inspection is done after the works are completed to see if there are any changes to the existing defects or if new defects have been created.
The report will identify damage cause by impact, cracks, subsidence, water damage and the presence of dust and debris.
The presence of these defects can determine a course of repair for the damage.
What does an inspector look at on an old or damaged property?
It can be a misconception to think that older homes are always ‘built to last’. A building inspection on any property, no matter it’s age, is important. A building inspector can pick up on faults and hazards that may not be identified by the average buyer.
Importantly, homes that were built pre-1980s will likely contain hazardous building materials including asbestos and lead.
Lead was used in paint and in some plumbing applications before 1978. If the property has never been touched before that time, a potential buyer will need to consider the implications of renovating an older home with lead present.
Asbestos can be another concern as it was used in wallboards, insulation and roofing before the 1970s. Asbestos removal can be a costly exercise. Your building inspector will be able to identify the potential asbestos in the home when they do the inspection. These notes will be written in their building inspection report.
A building inspector will look for significant cracks in walls and determine whether structural aspects of the house are satisfactory. Over time, even the most solid of homes can be affected by surrounding earth movements which can cause cracks and unevenness in the foundations. This unevenness can cause slanting in the house. Doors and windows may jam easily or won’t shut properly. There may also be visible wall cracks and uneven floors caused from this movement.
Is a dilapidation report necessary for every older home?
Generally, inspections for dilapidation are done on properties that are deemed liveable, and for residents who aren’t looking to necessarily sell their home. The inspection is simply done on the home before major works are done around the property. Once the building works have been completed, another inspection will occur to see if any damage has resulted from the external building works.
In most cases, the outside disruption causes little damage to your property. Often many of the cracks and defects identified in the second inspection, are the same ones identified and photographed from the first inspection. Property owners don’t often take notice of defects unless they’re made aware of them at an inspection in the first place.
If damage has been found on the properties, the residents are within their rights to ask for the damage to be rectified. The main reason a dilapidation inspection is done is to avoid any legal action from residents who believe their home has been damaged by the exterior works. A dilapidation inspection gives peace of mind to the owner and the building company who are contracted to do the works.
If you are looking to purchase an old or damaged property, don’t make the mistake of not getting a building inspection done first. Your building inspector may find faults you would not have considered before the purchase, or identify dilapidation issues when new works are carried out.