The Complete Guide to AS 4349.1 Pre-Purchase Property Inspections in Australia

When you commission a pre-purchase building inspection in Australia, the report should be written to AS 4349.1-2007: Inspection of buildings. Pre-purchase inspections. Residential buildings. This Standard sets the minimum scope, methodology, and report format that an inspector must follow.

Crucially, AS 4349.1 is a visual, non-invasive inspection limited to readily accessible areas. Inspectors cannot move heavy furniture, lift carpet, cut into linings, or test concealed services. They will look at the structure, exterior, roof exterior, roof space, interior, subfloor, and site, and document major and minor defects.

Three things AS 4349.1 deliberately does not cover: - Timber pests (that is AS 4349.3, usually combined as a "building and pest" report) - Asbestos identification (that is AS 4964) - Estimating cost of repairs

State licensing varies. In NSW, look for a Fair Trading building consultant licence; in Queensland, a QBCC inspection licence. In Victoria, building inspectors are not separately licensed but should be VBA-registered building practitioners.

If your inspector is not writing to AS 4349.1, ask why. The Standard exists precisely so buyers can compare reports apples to apples and rely on a consistent baseline of professional duty.