Last updated: 04/07/2026
1. About These Terms These Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings, inspections, and reports provided by Preferred Property Inspections ("we," "us," "our") to any client ("you," "the Client") for residential property located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). By booking an inspection, you accept these Terms.
2. Our Services We provide the following inspection services: Building and Compliance Inspection Reports, Pest Inspection Reports, Energy Efficiency Ratings, New Build Defect Assessments. Where a report is a Building and Compliance Inspection Report or a Pest Inspection Report as defined under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003 and the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Regulation 2004, it is prepared in accordance with the requirements of that Regulation, including: Pest inspection reports are completed in accordance with AS 4349.3 (Regulation, s 10) Building and compliance inspection reports set out the circumstances in which reliance may be placed on the report, consistent with the Regulation's requirements (Regulation, s 7).
3. Scope and Limitations of Inspections Our inspections and reports are prepared in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard(s): AS 4349.0 — Inspection of buildings — General requirements AS 4349.1 — Inspection of buildings — Pre-purchase inspections — Residential buildingsAS 4349.3 — Inspection of buildings — Timber pest inspections Consistent with these Standards, you acknowledge and agree that: Inspections are visual only and limited to areas that are safely and reasonably accessible at the time of inspection. We do not move furniture, stored items, or fixtures, and we do not dismantle, remove, or force open any part of the property.We cannot report on defects that are concealed, hidden behind finishes or coverings, or otherwise not visible at the time of inspection. We cannot report on conditions that are not apparent at the time of inspection due to weather, recent use of services (e.g. plumbing not run for some time), or other circumstances outside our control at that moment. Where access to any part of the property is restricted, obstructed, or denied, that area is excluded from the inspection, and this will be noted in the report. A pest inspection report does not constitute a warranty that the property is free of timber pests — some evidence of activity (e.g. certain termite species) can be very difficult to detect even with a thorough inspection. Our reports are not a certificate of compliance with any Act, Regulation, or building code, and do not replace advice from a structural engineer, licensed tradesperson, or other specialist where such advice is recommended in the report. If you are unsure about the scope of an inspection before booking, contact us to discuss — it's better to clarify this beforehand than after the report is issued.
4. Reliance on the Report Reports are prepared for the Client who commissioned them and, where the report is a Building and Compliance Inspection Report or Pest Inspection Report under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003, for a person who has entered into a contract to buy the property. We are not liable for reliance placed on a report by any other person unless we have agreed to that reliance in writing.
5. Bookings and Payment. The payment option selected in Part C of the booking form determines when the fees fall due. Only one option may be selected. 5.1 Payment on report delivery. Where the deferred payment option is not selected, all fees (including GST) associated with the reports are payable within 14 days after the reports are delivered to you. 5.2 Deferred payment. Where the deferred payment option is selected, all fees (including GST) associated with the reports are payable within 14 days of the earliest of the following to occur: (a) settlement of the property; (b) the property not having been listed for sale within 3 months after the inspection date; (c) the property ceasing to be listed for sale; and (d) 180 days after the inspection date. 5.3 Where the deferred payment option is selected, you are solely responsible for informing your solicitor or conveyancer that the fees are payable on settlement of the property. 5.4 Interest accrues on any amount not paid by its due date at 15% per annum, calculated daily and compounding monthly from the due date until the amount is paid in full. 5.5 All reasonable costs we incur in recovering an overdue amount, including debt recovery agency fees and legal costs, are payable by you. 5.6 A failure by us to exercise, or a delay in exercising, a right under this agreement is not a waiver of that right and does not prevent its later exercise. 5.7 This agreement binds each party and that party’s executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers, receivers and managers, liquidators, provisional liquidators, successors and assigns.
6. Cancellation, access and re-attendance. 6.1 There is no charge for rescheduling an inspection to another date. 6.2 There is no charge where you cancel an inspection at least 12 hours before the scheduled inspection time. 6.3 Where you cancel less than 12 hours before the scheduled inspection time and do not reschedule the inspection, a cancellation fee of $450 (incl. GST) applies. 6.4 Where the inspector attends at the agreed time and cannot obtain access to the property, or the property is not reasonably ready to be inspected, a re-attendance fee of $450 (incl. GST) applies to cover the cost of the wasted attendance. 6.5 The amounts in clauses 6.3 and 6.4 are a reasonable pre-estimate of the loss we suffer in those circumstances, and are not a penalty. 6.6 The Access Canberra conveyancing inquiry fee is included in the ACT Seller’s Package. Once the conveyancing inquiry has been lodged with Access Canberra that fee is not refundable to us, and is not refunded or credited to you if the inspection is subsequently cancelled or does not proceed
7. Insurance We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance consistent with the minimum requirements of the Regulation. Certificates of currency are available on request.
8. Liability To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability for any loss arising from an inspection or report is limited to the fee paid for that report, except where liability cannot be excluded or limited under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.
9. Privacy Our collection and use of your personal information is set out in our Privacy Policy.
10. Governing Law These Terms are governed by the laws of the Australian Capital Territory.
11. Contact Questions about these Terms can be directed to info@preferredpropertyinspections.com.au.