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If you have concerns about your current home or a property you are looking to purchase, our inspectors can conduct a weathertightness inspection to establish its risks and how the home is currently performing.
A weathertightness report is your first step to better understanding the issues or risks your property presents and the extent of investigation which may be required.
Our weathertightness inspections will check the property thoroughly from top to bottom. Your building will be assessed for visible signs of moisture ingress, will include non-invasive moisture readings externally and internally, and will comment on high risk details as well as preventative measures to take.
Generally our inspection begins with a non-invasive inspection of exterior cladding and flashing details around all accessible exterior elements. We will then carry out a full interior inspection including moisture testing to all exterior internal walls. Throughout the entire inspection, our surveyors will take detailed pictures of any concerns or high risk areas.
Upon completion of the inspection, a detailed weathertightness report is compiled for you which includes photographic evidence and recommendations for mitigating moisture ingress. Our weathertightness reports meet the requirements of all leading banks, and our inspectors can also carry out invasive moisture testing if it is deemed necessary, and permission is given.
A Weathertightness Report from NZ House Surveys includes:
- Detailed overview of the dwelling and construction
- An extensive non-invasive inspection of the building envelope
- Identify all visible high risk details
- Identify visible signs of moisture ingress
- Extensive non-invasive moisture testing to the exterior and interior of the dwelling
- Detailed photos of the dwelling and any high-risk areas
- Recommendations for mitigating moisture ingress
- Advise on further investigation if required
Contact our team today on 0800 487 844 to discuss your needs.
Increasingly insurance companies are requesting building reports on dwellings deemed to be in higher risk areas for natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and flooding. Insurance companies will often provide a document with a ‘checklist’ of questions that they require the inspector answers and signs off.
NZ House Surveys are experienced in carrying out insurance inspections and will complete the provided checklist with a written report. Insurance forms can also be completed as part of a pre-purchase building report on request.
Contact our team on 0800 487 884 for a free quote.
‘Safe & Sanitary’ or ‘Third Party’ reports completed by a qualified professional are a valid way to achieve a record of un-permitted construction alterations or additions completed prior to 1st July 1992. While they don’t make the alterations legal (there is no way to do this) they are a way of recording the changes on council property records.
Without this record, un-permitted changes can result in difficult re-sale of the property in future, and possible exclusions to insurance coverage for the property e.g. a house may be covered for a house fire but the un-permitted extension is unlikely to be.
Some examples can include:
- Homes that were altered at the time of construction and therefore differ from the plans on council file. Due to the permitting system not having a ‘final sign-off’ from authorities it’s common for homes to have had changes made during construction which were not part of the original permit.
- Alterations, extensions, wall removals, construction of garages, etc., that required a permit and do not have one
- Older homes where council has no floor plans on file (very common for homes from the early 1900’s)
At NZ House Surveys one of our trained and qualified inspectors will visit the site and perform a review of the building work and determine if a Safe & Sanitary/ third party report is appropriate. If a third party report is required then a full inspection will be undertaken including; taking measurements, photos and testing of plumbing and electrical when appropriate.
The safe and sanitary report needs to prove that:
- The work was constructed prior to the 1st July 1992.
- The work is considered safe and fit for purpose.
- The structure is sanitary – not offensive or likely to be a health risk.
- The structure is not subject to dampness.
- Where the work has involved installing new plumbing fixtures, that the structure has adequate drinkable water and sanitary facilities.
Our report will include detailed written and photographic evidence to support this along with an appropriate floor plan for the areas of concern. The report is then lodged with council who will put it on the property file they hold.
If you have un-permitted work in your home and would like this work recorded on council records, call our team of inspectors today on 0800 487 884 for a free quote.
Many councils around New Zealand require a building report on relocatable houses to determine the condition of the dwelling prior to issuing resource consent.
NZ House Surveys have experience carrying out condition reports for relocatable dwellings and will customise the report to meet the requirements of the council involved.
A pre-sale house inspection for home owners looking to put their property on the market is vital to understand the current condition of the dwelling. Knowing about existing issues or weathertightness concerns will allow you the opportunity to address the issues prior to marketing your property or disclose the issues to assist in a smoother sales process.
If you are engaging an inspector to carry out a pre-sale report on your home it is crucial you use someone who is qualified and from a reputable company as a substandard or ‘rosey’ report could leave you liable should the purchaser discover a substantial issue in the future - refer to the Edwards vs. Cull case where the vendor was found liable for the pre-sale report they provided.
Our team of inspectors have years of experience in the building industry and we are a corporate member with the New Zealand Institute of Building inspectors, so you can be sure you will receive a thorough and honest report.
Phone our team today on 0800 487 884 for more information.
How good is your home really? Worried you may have moisture issues, or just want a maintenance inspection to help you understand the condition of your property and guide you in prioritising maintenance?
Our inspectors at NZ House Surveys can conduct a home maintenance inspection and report to guide you in maintaining your home.
Our home maintenance reports include:
- Onsite visual inspection of the dwelling
- Written report including a general overview of the property and its condition
- Recommendations on maintenance activities and their priority
- Photographic documentation
- Report supplied in PDF format
If you would like a home maintenance report carried out, contact our team today on 0800 487 884 for a free quote.
NZ House Surveys can provide independent reports on work in dispute, and attend court proceedings as an expert witness if required.
Whether you are a contractor or the homeowner, if a dispute has arisen about the standard of building work which has been carried out, NZ House Surveys can undertake an inspection to provide a written independent report on the condition of the work and suggestions for remediation if required.
Tenants, landlords, Tenancy Tribunals and property managers have also used our independent reports to assist in resolving disputes, particularly around determining whether issues might be property related, occupier related or a combination of both.
If you require an independent report, contact our team today on 0800 487 884 to discuss your needs.
At NZ House Surveys we can customise a report to suit your specific needs.
Examples of customised reports can include:
- Roof inspections
- Floor and foundation inspections
- Cladding inspections
- Isolated moisture inspections
- Insulation reports
- Rental compliance reports
If you require a customised report, contact our friendly team of inspectors today to discuss your needs and request a free quote.