Six areas of inspection
Building interior, building exterior, roof exterior, roof space, sub-floor space, and site. Each area has defined sub-elements that must be visually inspected.
AS 4349.1-2007
Pre-Purchase Inspections - Residential Buildings
The Australian Standard for pre-purchase residential inspections. Defines the six areas of inspection (interior, exterior, roof, sub-floor, roof void, site), the report format, and the limitations every inspector must declare. This is the standard most Adelaide pre-purchase inspections are conducted to.
SCOPE
What's inspected under this standard.
- Residential building interior - all accessible rooms, fixtures, finishes
- Residential building exterior - cladding, windows, doors, paint
- Roof exterior - tile/sheet condition, ridge capping, flashings, gutters
- Roof space (where accessible) - insulation, framing, water entry signs
- Sub-floor space (where accessible) - ventilation, framing, dampness
- Site - drainage, paths, retaining walls, ancillary buildings within 30m
WHAT THE STANDARD DEFINES
Key requirements and structure.
Major vs minor defect categorisation
Major defects: structural, weatherproofing, safety, or significant cost. Minor defects: cosmetic, maintenance, or minor functional issues.
Format and structure of the report
Executive summary on page 1. Scope, methodology, limitations explicitly stated. Defect log with photographs, location tags, and severity ratings.
Time limits on report validity
AS 4349.1 reports describe condition on the day of inspection only. They do not guarantee future condition. Reports older than 30 days should be questioned in any negotiation.
WHO USES IT
Inspections under this standard are typically for...
- Property buyers under cooling-off pressure
- Anyone considering an offer on an Adelaide residential property
- Auction-day buyers needing pre-auction certainty
- Out-of-town buyers who can't inspect personally
- Investors evaluating residential portfolio additions
REPORT REQUIREMENTS
Every compliant report includes these.
- Property description and full address
- Inspection date, weather, building occupancy
- Inspector licence number, insurance currency
- All six AS 4349.1 areas explicitly addressed (or noted as inaccessible)
- Major defects flagged separately from minor
- Photographic evidence of every flagged defect
- Maintenance recommendations within 12-24 month horizon
- Plain-English executive summary
LIMITATIONS
What this standard doesn't cover
AS 4349.1 is non-invasive visual inspection. The inspector cannot lift carpets, move furniture, open walls, or access areas behind permanent fixtures. Reports must explicitly state these limitations. The inspection is not a guarantee of property condition - it documents what was visible on the inspection day.
RELATED INSPECTIONS
Inspections conducted under AS 4349.1
OTHER STANDARDS
Related standards in the AS 4349 family
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