Why Ballarat buyers shouldn't skip it
The City of Ballarat says the city isn't a declared termite area, which means new works there don't need termite protection. It also says there's always a risk of attack and that protection should always be considered.
Put those together and a house built in the last few years may lawfully have no termite management system at all, and an older house's termite history is anyone's guess until someone has looked.
Two inspections, side by side
| Building inspection | Timber pest inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does it | A qualified building inspector, surveyor or architect | A pest inspector who looks for termites and timber damage |
| What it's for | The condition of the building itself | Termites, old or active, and the damage they've done |
| Termite system | Not its focus | Notes any system and its notice, and signs termites have got past it |
| Consumer Affairs Victoria says | Use a service with full professional indemnity insurance | Consider it as well, to check for termites or other infestations |
Ballarat details worth knowing
Check for a termite notice anyway
Where a termite management system has been installed, the National Construction Code requires a durable notice, often in the meter box, showing the system and when it went in. In Ballarat a house may lawfully have none, so a missing notice isn't alarming on its own, but ask about it.
Chook pens and aviaries draw rodents
The council lists chicken pens, aviaries, compost piles, unsealed pet food, broken bins and fallen fruit as what attracts rats and mice. If the backyard has those, ask the inspector to note any rodent signs in the roof space.
Near Lake Wendouree?
Rakali, native water rats protected by Victorian law, are common around the lake. They look like a small otter with a white tipped tail, and they're not a pest problem to solve.
Questions for the inspector
- Did you get into the roof space and subfloor, and which areas couldn't you reach?
- Is there a termite management system, and is its notice current?
- Is any damage you found old or active?
- What would you check again before settlement, if anything?
Before you sign
We'd treat not declared as a reason to look more carefully, not less. Get your own timber pest inspection booked before the contract, then tap Buying a home with the postcode you're buying in.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
