Why no inspector can guarantee a house is termite free
The honest answer is also the useful one.
In short: Termites work concealed, so certainty is not available to anyone at any price.
What the standard provides
Under AS 4349.3 the scope is inspecting and reporting on areas that can be accessed. Certifying a property free of pests is not something it provides for.
Why concealment is the problem
They travel inside timber and behind linings, so an inspection sees accessible surfaces rather than the inside of a member.
What we do instead
Report evidence found, report conducive conditions, and state which areas could not be accessed and why.
What should make you wary
Any guarantee that a property carries no termites, because it cannot be supported by the standard being worked to.
What actually protects you
Inspecting on a regular cycle, clearing the conducive conditions, and having a licensed controller install a management system.
Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Box Hill. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
