National standards needed for property inspections
Industry pundits have called on the federal government to introduce a national registration standard for all housing inspection services.
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects, said the lack of legislation has failed to protect property buyers against unqualified property inspectors.
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The group’s chief executive Mark Stewart said there are no specific registration or qualification requirements for people to give advice on property inspections in all Australian states and territories apart from Queensland.
"In Queensland it is unlawful for people to operate in the pre-purchase housing inspection area without the inspector holding a Building Services Authority licence or unless they are an architect, engineer or surveyor,” he said.
“Everywhere else in Australia absolutely anyone can set up shop and start advising people on the largest purchase in many people's lives.”
Mr Stewart said some inspectors also have no professional indemnity insurance, leaving property buyers high and dry should they have to make a claim against the inspector over the quality of the report in the case it may have led to the purchase of a property with expensive faults.
