Building Agreement
Building Inspection
TYPE OF PROPOSED INSPECTION ORDERED BY YOU:
General and Special Purpose Building Inspection – AS4349.0-2007
or
Pre Purchase Building Inspection – AS4349.1-2007
The Building inspection will be of the Building Elements as outlined in Appendix C of AS4349.1-2007 except for Strata title properties where the inspection will be according to Appendix B of AS4349.1-2007. The purpose of the inspection is to identify major defects and safety hazards associated with the property at the time of the inspection.
A copy of the appropriate Standard with Appendices may be obtained from Standards Australia
(www.saiglobal.com/shop) at Your cost.
In ordering the inspection, You agree that the inspection will be carried out in accordance with the following clauses, which define the scope and limitations of the inspection and the report.
By agreeing to the inspection, the purchaser acknowledges that the limit of the inspectors’ liability is that of the professional indemnity insurance that is in place at time of inspection. A copy of this insurance cover can be provided on request.
SCOPE OF THE INSPECTION & REPORT
The Inspection will be carried out in accordance with AS4349.0-2007 (General and Special Purpose Building Inspection) and AS4349.1-2007 (Pre-Purchase Building Inspection). The purpose of the inspection is to identify major defects and safety hazards associated with the property at the time of the inspection. The inspection and reporting is limited to Appendix C of AS4349.1-2007.
1. The report does not include an estimate of the cost for rectification of the Defects unless specifically requested or offered at time of booking. If you have been referred to us by a solicitor or conveyancer, unless they have opted out of estimated defect costs, your report is likely to include estimated defect costs. Refer to item 16 below for estimated cost details. The overall condition of this building has been compared to similarly constructed and reasonably maintained buildings of approximately the same age. Areas for Inspection shall cover all safe and accessible areas.
2. The inspection comprises of a visual assessment of the items listed in Appendix C to AS4349.1-2007 for the structures within 30 metres of the building and within the site boundaries including fences.
3. Subject to safe and reasonable access (See Definitions below) the Inspection will normally report on the condition of each of the following areas: –
- The interior
- The roof void
- The exterior
- The subfloor
- The roof exterior
4. The inspector reports individually on Major Defects and Safety Hazards evident and visible on the date and time of the inspection. The report also provides a general assessment of the property and collectively comments on Minor Defects which would form a normal part of property maintenance.
5. Where a Major Defect has been identified, the inspector gives an opinion as to why it is a Major defect and specify its location.
6. The inspector may use a moisture meter to check moisture levels in walls that back onto wet areas such as showers etc. Other than these areas the moisture meter will not be used on other surfaces except where the visual inspection indicates that there may be a need to further test the area.
7. Spare
LIMITATIONS
8. The Inspector conducts a non–invasive visual inspection which is limited to those accessible areas and sections of the property to which Safe and Reasonable Access (see Definitions below) is both available and permitted on the date and time of the inspection. Areas where reasonable entry is denied to the inspector, or where safe and reasonable access is not available, are excluded from and do not form part of, the inspection. Those areas may be the subject of an additional inspection upon request following the provision or reasonable entry and access.
9. The Inspection WILL NOT involve any invasive inspection including cutting, breaking apart, dismantling, removing or moving objects including, but not limited to, roofing, wall and ceiling sheeting, ducting, foliage, mouldings, debris, roof insulation, sarking, sisalation, floor or wall coverings, sidings, fixtures, floors, pavers, furnishings, appliances or personal possessions.
10. The Inspection and Report compares the inspected building with a building constructed to the generally accepted practice at the time and which has been maintained, so there has been no significant loss of strength and permanence.
11. The inspector CANNOT see or inspect inside walls, between floors, inside skillion roofing, inside the eaves, behind stored goods in cupboards, in other areas that are concealed or obstructed. Insulation in the roof void may conceal the ceiling timbers and make inspection of the area unsafe. The inspector WILL NOT dig, gouge, force or perform any other invasive procedures. An invasive inspection will not be performed unless a separate contract is entered into. The Report is not a certificate of compliance that the property complies with the requirements of any Act, regulation, ordinance, local law or by-law, or as a warranty or an insurance policy against problems developing with the building in the future.
12. If Timber Pest Damage is found then it will be reported. The inspector will only report on the damage which is visible.
13. ASBESTOS: No inspection for asbestos will be carried out at the property and no report on the presence or absence of asbestos will be provided. If during the course of the Inspection asbestos or materials containing asbestos happened to be noticed, then this may be noted in the general remarks section of the report. We do however report on the hazards of asbestos if we think it may be present in the property. If asbestos is noted as present within the property, then you agree to seek advice from a qualified asbestos removal expert as to the amount and importance of the asbestos present and the cost sealing or of removal.
14. MOULD (MILDEW) AND NON-WOOD DECAY FUNGI DISCLAIMER: No inspection or report will be made for Mould (Mildew) and non-wood decay fungi.
15. MAGNESITE FLOORING DISCLAIMER: No inspection for Magnesite Flooring was carried out at the property and no report on the presence or absence of Magnesite Flooring is provided. You should ask the owner whether Magnesite Flooring is present and/or seek advice from a Structural Engineer.
16. ESTIMATING DISCLAIMER: Any estimates provided in the Report are merely opinions of possible costs that could be encountered, based on the knowledge and experience of the inspector, and are not estimates in the sense of being a calculation of the likely costs to be incurred. The estimates are NOT a guarantee or quotation for work to be carried out. The inspector accepts no liability for any estimates provided throughout this report where they occur you agree to obtain and rely on independent quotations for the same work.
17. If the property to be inspected is occupied then You must be aware that furnishings or household items may be concealing evidence of problems, which may only be revealed when the items are moved or removed. Where the Report says the property is occupied You agree to:
a) Obtain a statement from the owner as to
i. any Timber Pest activity or damage;
ii. timber repairs or other repairs
iii. alterations or other problems to the property known to them
iv. any other work carried out to the property including Timber Pest treatments
v. obtain copies of any paperwork issued and the details of all work carried out
b) Indemnify the Inspector from any loss incurred by You relating to the items listed in clause a) above where no such statement is obtained.
18. The Inspection Will not cover or report the items listed in Appendix D to AS4349.1-2007.
19. Where the property is a strata or similar title, only the interior and immediate exterior of the specified dwelling will be inspected by the inspector. The inspection will be as outlined in AS 4349.1-2007 Appendix B. Therefore, it is advised that the client obtain an inspection of common areas prior to any decision to purchase.
20. The Inspection and Report WILL NOT report on any defects which may not be apparent due to prevailing weather conditions at the time of the inspection. Such defects may only become apparent in differing weather conditions.
21. You agree that We cannot accept any liability for Our failure to report a defect that was concealed by the owner of the building being inspected and You agree to indemnify Us for any failure to find such concealed defects.
22. Where Our report recommends another type of inspection including an invasive inspection and report then You should have such an inspection carried out prior to the exchange of contracts or end of cooling-off period. If You fail to follow Our recommendations, then You agree and accept that You may suffer a financial loss and indemnify Us against all losses that You incur resulting from Your failure to act on Our advice.
23. The Report is prepared and presented, unless stated otherwise, under the assumption that the existing use of the building will continue as a Residential Property.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
24. In the event of any dispute or claim arising out of, or relating to the Inspection or the Report, You must notify Us as soon as possible of the dispute or claim by email, fax or mail. You must allow Us (which includes persons nominated by Us) to visit the property (which visit must occur within twenty-eight (28) days of your notification to Us) and give Us full access in order that We may fully investigate the complaint. You will be provided with a written response to your dispute or claim within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of the inspection.
If You are not satisfied with our response, You must within twenty one (21) days of Your receipt of Our written response refer the matter to a Mediator nominated by Us from the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators of Australia. The cost of the Mediator will be borne equally by both parties or, as agreed, as part of the mediated settlement.
In the event You do not comply with the above Complaints Procedure and commence litigation against Us then You agree to fully indemnify Us against any awards, costs, legal fees and expenses incurred by Us in having your litigation set aside or adjourned to permit the foregoing Complaints Procedure to complete.
25. THIRD PARTY DISCLAIMER:
We will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense, whatsoever, suffered or incurred by any Person other than You in connection with the use of the Inspection Report provided pursuant to this agreement by that Person for any purpose or in any way, including the use of this report for any purpose connected with the sale, purchase, or use of the Property or the giving of security over the Property, to the extent permissible by law. The only Person to whom We may be liable and to whom losses arising in contract or tort sustained may be payable by Us is the Client named on the face page of this Agreement.
Note: In the ACT under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 and Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Regulations 2004 the report resulting from this inspection may be passed to the purchaser as part of the sale process providing it is carried out not more than three months prior to listing and is not more than six months old.
26. Prohibition on the Provision or Sale of the Report
The Report may not be sold or provided to any other Person without Our express written permission, unless the Client is authorised to do so by Legislation. If We give our permission, it may be subject to conditions such as payment of a further fee by the other Person and agreement from the other Person to comply with this clause.
However, we may sell the Report to any other Person although there is no obligation for Us to do so.
27. Release
You release Us from any and all claims, actions, proceedings, judgments, damages, losses, interest, costs and expenses of whatever nature that the Person may have at any time hereafter arising from the unauthorised provision or sale of the Report by You to a Person without Our express written permission.
28. Indemnity
You indemnify Us in respect of any and all liability, including all claims, actions, proceedings, judgments, damages, losses, interest, costs and expenses of any nature, which may be incurred by, brought, made or recovered against Us arising directly or indirectly from the unauthorised provision or sale of the Report by You to a Person without Our express written permission.
DEFINITIONS:
You should read and understand the following definitions of words used in this Agreement and the Report. This will help You understand what is involved in a property and building inspection, the difficulties faced by the inspector and the contents of the Report which We will provide You following the Inspection.
Acceptance Criteria: The Building shall be compared with a building which was constructed at approximately the same time, using practices which were generally accepted as normal for that time and that the property has received maintenance to ensure that the intended strength and serviceability of the building have not significantly deteriorated over time.
Access hole (cover) means a hole in the structure allowing safe entry to an area.
Accessible area is any area of the property and structures allowing the inspector safe and reasonable access within the scope of the inspection.
Building Element means a part of a building performing a particular function either singularly or in conjunction with other such parts.
Client means the person(s) or other legal entity for which the inspection is to be carried out. If ordered by the person(s)’s agent, then it is agreed that the agent represents the person(s) and has the authority to act for and on their behalf. (See also “You/Your” below)
Defect means a variation or fault in material or a component or assembled element that deviates from its intended appearance or function.
Inspector means the company, partnership or individual named below that You have requested to carry out a Building Inspection and Report. (See also “Our/Us/We” below.)
Limitation means any factor that prevents full achievement of the purpose of the inspection.
Major defect means a defect of such significance that without correction would not avoid Safety Concerns, loss of the intended practical performance of the building element or an additional decline in the existing condition of the property inspected.
Minor defect means a defect which is not a Major Defect.
Person means any individual, company, partnership or association who is not a Client.
Property means the structures and boundaries up to thirty (30m) metres from the exterior walls of the main building but within the boundaries of the land on which the main building is erected.
Report means the document and any attachments issued to You by Us following Our inspection of the property.
Structural Inspection means the inspection shall comprise visual assessment of accessible areas of the property to identify major defects to the building structure and to form an opinion regarding the general condition of the structure of the property.
The Report will not include those items noted in Clause A3 of AS 4349.1-2007 e.g., Condition of roof coverings, partition walls, cabinetry, doors, trims, fencing, minor structures, ceiling linings, windows, non-structural & serviceability damp issues, rising damp, condensation etc.
Safe and Reasonable Access does not include the use of destructive or invasive inspection methods or moving furniture or stored goods.
The Standard AS4349.1-2007 provides information concerning safe and reasonable access:
Only areas where reasonable and safe access was available were inspected. Access will not be available where there are safety concerns, or obstructions, or the space available is less than the following:
ROOF VOID – the dimensions of the access hole must be at least 500mm x 400mm, and, reachable by a 3.6M ladder, and there is at least 600mm x 600mm of space to crawl;
ROOF EXTERIOR – must be accessible by a 3.6M ladder placed at ground level.
Reasonable access does not include the use of destructive or invasive inspection methods. Nor does reasonable access include cutting or making access traps or moving heavy furniture or stored goods.
SAFE ACCESS – Is at the inspector’s discretion and will take into account conditions existing on the property at the time of the inspection.
Our/Us/We means the company, partnership or individual named below that You have requested to carry out the property inspection and report.
You/Your means the party identified on the face page of this agreement as the Client, and where more than one party all such parties jointly and severally, together with any agent of that party.
Note: Additional inspection requirements requested by You may incur additional expense in regard to the cost of the inspection.
Are there Special Requirements / Conditions requested by the Client/Client’s Representative regarding the Inspection and Report: Refer to the order details (telephone/email/fax request from you).
Cost of the Report including any requested Special Requirements/Conditions: As quoted.
Acceptance of Building Agreement as required by your request.
Name:
(Name of the Client)
on this ……………….. day of …………… 20………………
Time Agreement signed:
by
(Name of person signing)
Signature:
……………………………………………………..
Signed for and on behalf of Alpha Building Services Pty Ltd T/A Inspect It
(Name of inspecting company. partnership or individual)
on the date of this transmission via email or fax.
by Alpha Building Services Pty Ltd Employee
(Name of person signing)
Signature:
………………………………………………………
Please email this document to
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