St Lucia is one of Brisbane’s most affluent suburbs, south of the river. Its close proximity to the city of Brisbane is one of the main reasons residents are drawn to live in this suburb. Historically, it was originally part of Indooroopilly and Toowong, before being named a suburb in its own right. St Lucia is a suburb that is highly appealing to those who want to live close the city without the urban sprawl or in close proximity to the local university. It’s the perfect location to purchase a rental property. But before you settle on purchasing a property to rent in this leafy suburb, you will want to organise a building inspector knowledgeable about St Lucia, and the properties that reside in the area.
Why is St Lucia an appealing suburb to live in?
St Lucia comprises of medium to high density residential living. There are two demographics that reside in this affluent suburb. There are wealthy professionals that like the close proximity to the city, the prominent river views and various private schools within a short distance for their children’s education. The other demographic that resides in the area are university students, who rent apartments so they can be close to The University of Queensland, which takes up the eastern third of the suburb.
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Why building inspections are necessary in St Lucia
Despite St Lucia being known as an affluent suburb in Brisbane, any property in the area should have a building inspection before purchase for many reasons.
The first reason is because it was one of the main areas that went under in the 2011 Brisbane floods. A building inspection will check that any flood damage has been repaired to meet the current building standards.
Another reason a building inspection is important in St Lucia is because where there is a demand for rentals near a University, there can be a temptation to house more students into an apartment than what is legal to increase rental income. A building inspection can check if illegal renovations have been conducted to create more rooms in apartments that are meant to house a couple of students.
The third reason a building and pest inspection should be mandatory in St Lucia, is because of its proximity to the river, which can attract termites and pests. Pests like to reside near moisture. It’s important for this to be checked before purchasing a unit or house to rent out.
Arrange a building and pest inspection in St Lucia
If you’ve found a property with wonderful rental potential in St Lucia, the next step is to contact Action Property Inspections to arrange a building and pest inspection. Not only will this inspection give you peace of mind, it will identify some of the issues that have been found in properties within the area. See our sample property inspection report to learn more.
