DO BUILDING INSPECTIONS COVER PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL?
Technically, plumbing and electrical issues are outside the scope of works for a pre-purchase building inspection as per Australian Standard 4349.1-2007 [great bedtime reading].
What the building inspector is looking for, when carrying out a pre-purchase inspection is the structural integrity of the building, compliance with the Building Code of Australia, safety issues and hazards and moisture.
The big things…but also maintenance items.
Plumbing and electrical fall outside the scope of works for a pre-purchase building inspection.
During the building inspection, if the inspector does see something that’s amiss with the electrical or the plumbing, he will flag it in the report for further investigation.
You can count on visible plumbing and electrical issues being caught and referred to the right trade…think in terms of a GP vs. a Specialist. The GP should be able to identify that there is a problem, the Specialist should tell you what it is.
If the property you are buying is more than 50 years old we recommend you get both the plumbing and electrical looked at because the original materials will have deteriorated over time and they’re not always obvious. We also always recommend a plumbing inspection if the property is on a septic system.
Most of the pipework and wiring are inside walls and under floors, you can’t see them. So its good to get those things checked out as a matter of course.
#duediligence #buildinginspections #buildingcodeofaustralia #AS4349.1-2007