Dilapidation Reports in Sydney

Much of metropolitan Sydney is built out. Excavation for basements, secondary dwellings and infill development regularly occurs within metres of an adjoining wall, fence or driveway, and many neighbouring buildings are decades old with existing cracking or settlement.

Documenting that existing condition before work begins protects both the party doing the works and the neighbour. It is a record, not a defence — but without it, disputes turn into opinion.

Sydney is covered by many separate local councils, each with its own development application requirements and standard conditions of consent. Some impose dilapidation surveys of adjoining properties or of public infrastructure such as footpaths and kerbs; others do not.

Because these requirements differ across the metropolitan area, check the conditions applying to your specific consent rather than assuming a Sydney-wide rule. Draft page — council-specific detail will be added from published council sources.

Confirm which properties are to be surveyed, whether access to neighbouring properties will be arranged and by whom, and how quickly the consultant can attend once your construction date is confirmed.

Ask whether a post-construction survey is included, since the comparison between the two is what gives the exercise its value.