Archicentre

People have more protection buying a car than a house

Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects today called for the introduction of a national registration standard for all housing inspection services.

Mark Stewart, Archicentre Chief Executive said there are no specific registration or qualification requirements for people to give advice on property inspections in all Australian States and Territories other than Queensland. When people experience trouble with a poor building inspection and ring Archicentre to do one, they are invariably shocked to learn that literally anyone can do a building inspection with no need for any qualifications, no experience, no insurance or building fault knowledge.

"In Queensland it is unlawful for people to operate in the pre-purchase housing inspection area without the inspector holding a Building Services Authority license or unless they are an architect, engineer or surveyor. Everywhere else in Australia absolutely anyone can set up shop and start advising people on the largest purchase in many people's lives.

"In the current situation with no national legislative protection for home buyers against unqualified property inspectors, people hiring someone to undertake a property inspection before purchasing really must undertake their own due diligence on the inspector to ensure they have the knowledge and experience to adequately inspect the property and give professional advice."

The lack of current effective legislation to protect home buyers against unqualified property inspectors reinforces that well known advice of 'Buyer Beware', Mr Stewart said.

Top Questions to ask before Hiring a Property Inspector

1. Are you a currently registered engineer, architect or surveyor?

2. Is your inspection conducted to the Australian Standard?

3. Do you carry at least a $10 Million Professional Indemnity Insurance policy?

4. How many years experience do you have inspecting properties?

5. Ask to see a copy of a sample report and read the fine print especially what is covered and not covered.

6. Find out how long the property inspection service has been in business and what is its operating address.

7. Never rely on a business with only a mobile phone number for contact.

8. Make sure that your inspector is independent and does not also undertake repair work - you may end up with recommendations for work you do not need.

Mr Stewart said some inspectors also have no professional indemnity insurance that leaves the home buyer high and dry if they have to make a claim against the inspector over the quality of the report which led to purchasing a property with expensive faults.

"The warning signs of a risky inspection process includes a request for cash payments before the inspection, the lack of a business contact telephone number apart from a mobile, a post office box address and no business address, and no indemnity insurance. There is often a lack of professional testing equipment such as ladders, damp detectors, levelling devices and probes.

"The fact that many of the areas of a home which require inspection are out of sight and in some cases difficult for the home buyer to see, means that they are totally dependent on the quality of their property inspector's report," Mr Stewart added.

www.archicentre.com.au

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Archicentre - Mobile: 0417 329 201