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Understand more before you decide.

Plain-language answers to common property questions, each with a written summary and a link to the related service.

These topics are general information about how property processes work. They are not an assessment of, or advice about, a specific property.

Illustration of a home drawn as fine architectural linework — Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.

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Inspections
Which inspection do I actually need?
Pre-purchase, strata, new-build and specialist inspections each suit a different need: buying a house or an apartment, building, or looking into a concern such as cracking, damp or older materials. This topic explains what each type looks at, when people usually arrange it, and how to describe your situation so we can suggest the right scope.
Key points 7
- Buying a house: a pre-purchase inspection looks at its visible condition and for signs of timber pest activity. For a home you already own, choose building and pest.
- Buying an apartment, unit or townhouse: a strata report covers the lot and the common property you can access, with help reading the owners corporation papers.
- Building: independent stage and handover inspections are checks you choose, separate from the mandatory inspections for the building permit.
- A specific concern: structural, mould and asbestos inspections look at visible cracking or movement, visible mould and signs of moisture, or materials that may contain asbestos.
- Pools and land: pool barrier inspections focus on the barrier, gates and fences. Land inspections look at the block, its site features and its surrounds.
- Before nearby works: a dilapidation report is a dated, photo-supported record of visible condition.
- If you're unsure, describe the property and the decision you're facing, and we'll help you choose.
Related service: Pre-purchase inspections
Inspections
What should I do before the inspection?
Good access makes for a more complete inspection. This topic covers arranging keys and permission, clearing the way to key areas, and gathering documents that help explain the property.
Key points 5
- Confirm access with the owner, agent or renter, and arrange keys ahead of the day.
- Make sure the roof space access, subfloor access, meter box and outbuildings can be reached.
- Secure pets and mention anything that could affect safe access.
- Have plans, permits, certificates or previous reports ready to share.
- Areas that can't be reached safely are recorded as limitations in the report.
Related service: Building & pest inspections
Inspections
How do I read an inspection report?
An inspection report records what was observed at the time of the inspection, where it was observed, and what couldn't be inspected. This topic walks through a typical report structure and how to use it when you talk with builders, agents or other advisers.
Key points 5
- A report describes observations at the time of the inspection. Conditions can change afterwards.
- Read the scope and limitations first, so you know what was and wasn't inspected.
- Observations are grouped by area, so you can find what matters to your decision.
- A report is not a certificate of compliance, a warranty or an insurance policy.
- If something isn't clear, ask us to explain it in plain language.
Related service: Compliance & reporting
Building
What should I ask while my new home is being built?
Building a new home involves several construction stages, a building permit, and a builder who remains responsible for the work. This topic explains how independent stage inspections sit alongside the mandatory inspections for the building permit, and which questions are worth asking along the way.
Key points 5
- Mandatory inspections for the building permit are carried out by, or on behalf of, the relevant building surveyor.
- Independent stage inspections are ones you choose to commission. They don't replace the mandatory inspections.
- Commonly requested stages include slab or base, frame, lock-up, fixing, and completion or handover.
- Check your building contract for how each stage is defined and how you'll be told a stage is reached.
- Your builder remains responsible for the building work, whatever inspections you commission.
Related service: New-building inspections
Permits & documentation
Which permits and documents might my project need?
Planning permits and building permits deal with different things, and a project may need one, both or neither. This topic explains the difference in plain terms, the kinds of documents authorities commonly ask for, and why the decision always sits with the relevant authority.
Key points 5
- A planning permit generally relates to how land is used and developed. Your council administers planning.
- A building permit relates to the building work itself and is issued by a building surveyor.
- Whether a permit is needed depends on the project and the property, so check before work starts.
- Authorities commonly ask for plans, specifications and supporting reports. Exact requirements vary.
- Decisions and timeframes sit with your council, the relevant building surveyor or the relevant authority.
Related service: Permits & approvals
Building
What do property owners often ask about their homes?
Many owner questions come back to a few themes: what needs a permit, which records to keep, and who to ask about a particular problem. This topic works through common questions in plain language and points to the right person for each.
Key points 5
- Check whether a permit may be needed before starting building work, including smaller projects.
- Keep permits, plans, certificates and warranties together. They matter when you sell, rent or renovate.
- Some questions need a specialist, such as a licensed land surveyor to confirm a boundary.
- An inspection describes condition. It doesn't settle disputes or give legal advice.
- If you're not sure who to ask, send an enquiry and we'll point you in the right direction.
Related service: Documentation assistance
Pools & fences
What should pool and spa owners know about barriers?
A barrier does its job when the details are right, from gates that close and latch on their own to nothing nearby that makes it easier to climb. This topic explains the basics in plain language: what a barrier is for, what gets looked at, and where to confirm the registration and certification requirements that apply to your property.
Key points 5
- Pool and spa barrier requirements are administered through your local council.
- Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and should never be propped open.
- Objects near the barrier, such as furniture, pots or plants, can make it easier to climb.
- Requirements can depend on when the pool or spa was installed, so confirm what applies to yours.
- Keep previous barrier certificates and council letters together, so they're easy to find when you need them.
Related service: Pool and fence/barrier inspections
Rentals
How should rental providers and property managers record a property's condition?
Clear, dated records of a rental property's condition help owners, rental providers and property managers keep track of the property over time. This topic covers routine and pre-tenancy condition records, good photo practice, and where Victoria's rental minimum standards fit in.
Key points 5
- Victoria has minimum standards for rental properties. Check the official renting guidance for what applies.
- Record condition before a tenancy begins and at routine inspections, with dated photos.
- Describe what you see room by room, in plain and neutral language.
- Keep condition records together with repair invoices and compliance paperwork.
- A condition record isn't legal advice. Seek advice about disputes or legal obligations.
Related service: Rental inspections

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