A building and pest report isn't legally required in NSW, but for most Sydney houses, especially older terraces and semis, it's one of the most valuable checks you can order before exchange.
Legal review tells you what you're entitled to; a building and pest report tells you what condition it's actually in. The two are complementary, not interchangeable, and both matter before you commit.
A licensed inspector checks structural condition, rising damp, roof and guttering, and signs of termite activity or past treatment, particularly relevant in the sandstone-and-sandy-soil geology common across Sydney City, the Northern Beaches and Inner West.
Order the inspection as early as possible, ideally before you're close to exchange, since findings can affect your offer, or in some cases whether you proceed at all. For auction properties, this means booking an inspection as soon as the property is listed.
If the report raises a significant issue, we can factor it into negotiations on price or special conditions before exchange, something that's far harder to do once contracts are signed.
Yes, a significant defect found in the report is often used to renegotiate price or request repairs before exchange.
A standard building and pest report generally covers the unit interior only, common property issues come through the separate strata report.
It's an extra cost, typically $400–$700, but for most houses it's cheap insurance against inheriting a structural or pest problem that costs far more to fix later.
Get a fixed-fee quote and speak directly to the person who'll handle your matter.
This article is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please get in touch.