Dilapidation Report:
When You Need One & What It Covers

The price depends on the size of the property, how many properties need documenting, and whether both a pre-works and a post-works report are required. Neighbouring properties are usually quoted together, which is cheaper than booking them one at a time. You get a fixed quote before the inspection, not an estimate that moves afterwards.

The time required to complete a Dilapidation report depends on the project scope, but it typically takes 1-8 hours depending on the size of the property and extent of documentation required.

Acceptance depends on the requirements for your project, including the report’s scope and the preparer’s qualifications. Send us the relevant consent or permit conditions before booking so we can confirm our report meets them.

Yes, our Dilapidation reports include detailed photographic evidence of the property condition, including any pre-existing damage. Every defect and condition is documented with high-resolution photographs.

Yes, you are welcome to be present during the inspection. However, it is not necessary as our inspectors work independently with online checklists and can conduct the inspection on your behalf.

We will provide you with a comprehensive report within 24 hours of inspection completion. Reports are delivered via email in cloud and PDF formats for convenient access.

Yes, we offer post-construction dilapidation inspections to record the property condition after construction. This allows comparison with the pre-construction report to identify any damage that may have occurred.

Contact your local council or consult with relevant experts. We recommend inspecting all adjacent properties to proposed worksites to ensure comprehensive coverage and protection.

Reports can be submitted on your behalf if requested. Otherwise, you will receive the report for your personal records or council submission as required by your local authority.

Yes, having both reports is highly recommended to ensure that any changes or damages to the property are recorded accurately. This provides complete documentation for any potential claims.

Yes, our dilapidation reports are a professional record and can be used as legal evidence. Our reports have been successfully used in court proceedings and tribunal hearings previously.

Yes, we can coordinate directly with homeowners if you provide their contact details. We will arrange inspection scheduling and access on your behalf.

As a general rule, it is recommended to conduct a new inspection and report for any significant changes or after two years. If construction is delayed significantly, a new report may be needed.

Each council has different requirements. Share your council documentation with us and we will ensure our report complies with your local council standards and specifications.

Check your consent: some conditions specify who must prepare the report, such as a practising structural engineer. Send us the conditions and we will confirm before booking whether our report can be lodged as it stands.

A building inspection assesses the overall condition of a property for buying or selling purposes. A dilapidation report specifically documents the existing condition of neighbouring properties before construction begins, creating a baseline record to determine whether any future damage was caused by the construction activity.

The number of properties depends on the scale and type of construction. For residential builds, we typically recommend inspecting all directly adjoining properties. For larger projects involving demolition, excavation, or heavy machinery, properties across the street and further along may also need to be documented.

Yes. A pre-construction dilapidation report provides documented evidence of the property condition before work began. When compared with a post-construction report, it clearly demonstrates what damage occurred during the construction period, which is valuable evidence for insurance claims.

Requirements vary by council and the type of construction. Many councils require dilapidation reports as a condition of development consent for projects involving excavation, demolition, or construction near neighbouring properties. Check your development consent conditions or contact your local council for specific requirements.

They describe the same job. The survey is the inspection itself, where every existing crack, movement and defect is photographed and located; the report is the dated document that comes out of it. Some councils and builders ask for a dilapidation survey, others for a dilapidation report or a condition report, and all three mean the same deliverable.

Before any work starts, and again once it finishes. The pre-works inspection records the condition before construction begins, and the post-works inspection documents changes by comparing the same areas and features. Agree the timing against your consent or contract, and if damage appears while work is underway, record it straight away.

It is normally whoever carries out the works, because the requirement usually sits in their consent or contract, but check those documents to confirm who must arrange it, pay for it and receive a copy. A neighbouring owner may also choose to commission an independent report.

Yes. You can arrange an independent inspection even if the developer has already arranged a report, subject to access and an agreed scope. Its usefulness depends on its timing, coverage and quality, so book it before works start where you can.

It depends on the state and the approvals for the project. In Victoria, where protection work is required, the Building Act 1993 lets the owner carrying out the work enter the adjoining property on notice to carry out the protection-work survey; elsewhere access usually needs the neighbour’s consent. If access is refused, document the request and the refusal in writing, seek advice about any access rights that apply, and record only the areas you can lawfully inspect, such as elevations visible from your own site or public land. The refusal and the areas not inspected are noted in the report by name.

Yes. Councils often require public assets next to the site, such as footpaths, kerbing, road surfaces and nature strips, to be recorded as part of the consent conditions. Including them gives a complete baseline and protects the builder from claims about damage to council infrastructure that was already there.

Yes, but its value as a baseline is reduced, because it records the property as it is now and cannot confirm what existed before works began. If you notice new damage during construction it is still worth recording the current condition straight away. The strongest protection comes from a report completed before works start.

The comparison can document changes between the two inspections. Establishing their cause and who is responsible may need further investigation. Keep both reports and all related correspondence, and seek advice about any notification, insurance or legal steps that apply to your circumstances.

A missing pre-works report makes comparison more difficult, but other evidence may still help, including dated photographs, earlier inspection records and witness accounts. Record the current condition promptly and seek advice about investigating the damage.

Light rain does not usually stop an inspection, but heavy rain, storms or flooding may mean rescheduling, because wet surfaces hide some defects and standing water can block access. Your inspector will tell you if conditions would compromise the record and offer another date.