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Cautionary Note 38 – Assessment of timber pest damage
August 14, 2000
Based on data collected from inspection of over 45,000 buildings we issue the following advice.
Property and timber pest reports may indicate that a property has been affected or damaged by timber pests. These reports will routinely advise further investigation of the damage.
However, this advice can:
- commonly appear unimportant and be obscured in the standard clauses
- rely on the building report to document the damage even if that report has been carried out before the timber pest report
- be further confused when the property and timber pest reports are not carried out by a building consultant with timber pest qualifications
- often be ignored by purchasers and their legal advisors.
Whilst timber pest damage may be minimal, in a significant minority of cases termite, rot and borer damage can be extensive.
Extensive timber pest damage clearly reduces the value of any building structure and can be difficult to control.
Legal advisers play a key role in protecting purchasers from these unexpected liabilities.
If timber pest damage is reported we recommend:
- the purchaser should be warned about possible concealed damage
- the vendor is invited to rectify the damage and control the infestation
- if this is not possible, the extent and cost of timber pest damage should be assessed by an appropriate person experienced with this type of work and the price negotiated to include repair and control
- all control and rectification should be reviewed by an independent consultant and structural repairs certified by a building consultant.
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