Moving on: How tenancies in the ACT may come to an end
For whatever reason, you may find yourself needing to end a tenancy agreement. Here’s a look at the proper process for ending tenancies in the ACT.
Since the introduction of the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003, it has been compulsory for homeowners in the ACT to have a building and pest report conducted on their property, prior to marketing the home for sale.
The building inspection must be carried out by a licensed building inspector, and forms part of the contract for sale. The building report that is issued is typically comprised of 4 separate parts, with each part often completed during the one inspection:
Building Report
Compliance Report
EER Report
Pest Report
In Part 1 of this 4 part series, we have asked the team at ACT Property Inspections to put together a list of common defects identified in building reports.
For an obligation free walkthrough of your property with an experienced real estate agent to identify any potential issues prior to ordering your building report, click here.
What follows is a detailed account of what they look for inside the home when conducting their inspection, and for those that haven’t been through the process before, the list can often look a bit daunting:
Ceilings
Sagging ceiling sheets
Cracking in ceiling or cornice
Water staining from a leak from the roof
Mould
Flaking paint
Walls
Cracking and movement
Impact damage
Skirting and architraves defects
Doors
Door hardware operational
Door binding on door frame or floor
Impact damage
Weather damage on external doors
Cracked glass in side panels
Door runners smooth on sliding doors
Floors
Cracked or drummy tiles
Grout defects between the tiles
Torn carpet
Water damage
Windows
Binding windows
Window runner requiring replacement
Locks not installed or not operational
Cracked glass
Fly screen damaged
Timber decay and weathering
Flaking paint
Deteriorated window rubber flashings at bottom of window
Wet areas and kitchen
Cupboards operational
Water damage or water leaks from sinks
Leaking showers
Water damage to walls, skirting, or under floor from leaking showers
Poor silicon joints in shower corners
Poor silicon joints between the bench and the splash back
Cracked and drummy wall and floor tiles
Water damaged vanity caused by leaks
Exhaust fans operates when required
Leaking toilet
Flush buttons on toilet not operational
For obligation free advice on what needs fixing up at your property, before the building inspector arrives click here.
However ACT Property Inspections are also required to inspect the exterior of the property, and in that instance the following are considered:
Roof
Cracked tiles
Flaking and cracked roof pointing
Corrosion on metal roofs
Torn or weathered flashings
Gutter corrosion
Gutters blocked
Fascia weathering or decay
Eaves sheets require repair and re-fixing
Water staining on the underside of the eaves indicating a leak from the roof
Roof structure defects
Insulation installed over down lights
External Walls
Cracking and movement
Timber decay and weathering on timber cladding
Weep holes not installed if required
Termite barrier and damp proof course bridge by external landscaping
Fences
Timber decay and weathering
Termite damage
Pool fence/gate safety
Gate operational including latches
Decks and Pergolas
Posts in direct contact with ground
Timber decay and weathering
Termite damage
Approved handrails not installed on decks over 1m in height
Roof sheeting not fixed to rafters property
Gutters not installed on larger roofs
Gutter not connected to storm water drains
Subfloor
Water damage under wet areas caused by leaks
Damp subfloor soil
Poor ventilation
Subfloor access door in poor condition
Ant capping not installed or not installed correctly
Sunken piers
Floor structure defects
It’s important to know that there’s no obligation on the homeowner to rectify any, or all of these defects (as long as the property is safe for buyers to inspect), the legislation requires that they are merely disclosed so that the buyers have full knowledge of the condition of the property prior to making any offers. In practice this is meant to facilitate a faster sale process from the time an offer is made, as there are not multiple buyers ordering building reports as can occur in other states.
For an obligation free walkthrough of your property with an agent prior to identify any issues prior to ordering your building report, click here.
Keep an eye out for Part 2 of the series: Common termites found in the ACT
For whatever reason, you may find yourself needing to end a tenancy agreement. Here’s a look at the proper process for ending tenancies in the ACT.
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