What are domestic building inspectors? 
A domestic building inspection determines whether domestic building work performed by the builder is defective. Building work may be defective if it does not comply with the domestic building contract, with contract documents or with warranties required by legislation.
The Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 allows parties to a building contract, who are involved in a domestic building dispute to request an independent inspection and report. You can request the Building Commission to conduct a domestic building inspection at any stage either during or after completion of building work. An independent, professional domestic building inspector will be appointed by the Building Commission to inspect the building work in dispute. The inspector will only examine items in dispute and will not address non-quality issues (e.g. time delays, costs etc). It's important to note that these type of inspections are not general "finding defects" inspections but rather a list of items that the applicant believes is defective in their home resulting from the workmanship of the builder.
What is a "domestic building dispute" ?
Section 54 of Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 defines this:
(1) A "domestic building dispute" is a dispute or claim arising -
(a) between a building owner and-
(i) a builder; or
(ii) a building practitioner (as defined in the Building Act 1993); or
(iii) a sub-contractor; or
(iv) an architect
in relation to a domestic building contract or the carrying out of domestic building work.
What is domestic building work?
(a) the erection or construction of a home, including:
(i) any associated work including, but not limited to, landscaping, paving and the erection or construction of any building or fixture associated with the home (such as retaining structures, driveways, fencing, garages, carports, workshops, swimming pools or spas); and
(ii) the provision of lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water supply, sewerage or drainage to the home or the property on which the home is, or is to be;
(b) the renovation, alteration, extension, improvement or repair of a home;
(c) any work such as landscaping, paving or the erection or construction of retaining structures, driveways, fencing, garages, workshops, swimming pools or spas that is to be carried out in conjunction with the renovation, alteration, extension, improvement or repair of a home;
(d) the demolition or removal of a home;
(e) any work associated with the construction or erection of a building.
For any of the above works, a domestic building inspector will inspect the items in dispute and prepare a written report for your perusal.
What is a "domestic building inspector" ?
A domestic building inspector is an Inspector for the purposes of carrying out domestic building inspections and as defined in section 137B of the Building Act 1993 is a "prescribed building practitioner". The Building Act 1993 describes a prescribed building practitioner as:
(a) an architect registered under the Architects Act 1991; or
(b) a building surveyor, building inspector or registered engineer
How can I apply for a Domestic Building Inspection?
