Dilapidation reports by a chartered structural engineer
We record the condition of the properties around your site before works start, and again when they finish. When a crack claim comes in, the answer is already on paper.
- Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng)
- National Engineering Register (NER)
- Professional indemnity insured
- Based in Wollongong and Sydney
- D1 Stepped crack through mortar from window sill, 1.5 mm max.
- D2 Hairline crack above door lintel, under 0.2 mm.
- D3 Vertical crack at wall base, 0.5 mm, earlier patch visible.
What the report records
Every report is inspected, written and signed by a structural engineer, not a photographer with a template. Defects are described in engineering terms, measured, and located so they can be found again.
- Every room and elevation. Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, roof where visible, and the exterior from each side.
- Measured cracks. Widths taken with a crack gauge and lengths recorded, so a post-construction comparison is a measurement, not an opinion.
- Date-stamped photographs. Hundreds per property if needed, referenced to a location plan.
- External works. Fences, retaining walls, driveways, paving, pools, garages and sheds.
- An existing defects schedule. Each item has a reference number that carries through to the post-construction report.
- Engineer's sign-off. Suitable for council conditions, insurers, and dispute resolution.
When you need one
Before works start
A pre-construction report on each neighbouring property before demolition, excavation, piling or heavy machinery arrives. Often a DA or CDC condition.
After works finish
A post-construction report repeats the survey and compares every item. New damage is identified; existing defects are ruled out.
Next door to a building site
Neighbours can commission an independent record of their own home, separate from the builder's report.
Pools, roads and civil works
Pool excavation, rock breaking, compaction and roadworks all send vibration into nearby structures. Pool dilapidation reports are a common request.
How it works
Send the address
Use the quote form, with your DA or CDC conditions if you have them.
Get a fixed fee
We price per property, with pre and post inspections quoted together.
We arrange access
We contact each owner, explain the inspection and book a time that suits them.
Inspection
The engineer inspects, measures and photographs each property.
Report issued
A signed PDF report for you, and a copy for each owner on request.
Post-construction
When works finish, we re-inspect and compare against the original record.
Where we work
We cover Wollongong, the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven, and all of Greater Sydney, from the Sutherland Shire to the North Shore and out to Parramatta and Macarthur.
Request a quote
Tell us where the works are and what's planned. We'll reply with a fixed fee per property and available inspection dates.
Or call 0450 787 971, or email info@iiengineer.com.
Common questions
What is a dilapidation report?
A dated record of a property's condition, made before nearby works start. It documents existing cracks, damage and wear with photographs and measurements, so any later damage can be compared against it. See our full explanation.
Who pays for the dilapidation report?
Usually the builder or developer doing the works, because the report protects them against claims for damage that already existed. Neighbours can also commission their own report if they want an independent record.
Do you cover all of Sydney?
Yes. We inspect across Greater Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, St George, the Inner West, the Eastern Suburbs, the North Shore, Canterbury-Bankstown, Parramatta and Macarthur, as well as Wollongong, the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven. See all service areas.
How long does an inspection take?
A typical house takes one to two hours on site, covering every room, the exterior, fences, paving and any outbuildings. Larger buildings and multi-unit sites take longer, and we confirm timing when we quote.
Does a neighbour have to let you in?
No. Access is voluntary. If an owner declines, we record what can be seen from the street and the building site, and note the refusal in the report. That record is still useful evidence.
Will the report satisfy my council condition?
Our reports are prepared and signed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and are written to address the standard dilapidation conditions used by Sydney, Illawarra and Shoalhaven councils. Send us the condition wording with your quote request and we'll confirm.
Do I need a post-construction report as well?
If anyone may claim damage, yes. The post-construction inspection repeats the original survey and compares each item, so new damage is identified and existing defects are ruled out. Booking both together usually costs less.
Articles
- Dilapidation reports for swimming pool excavationPools are one of the most common reasons neighbours report new cracks. Here's how to protect yourself before the excavator arrives.
- Pre- vs post-construction dilapidation reportsTwo inspections, one purpose: showing exactly what changed while the works were on.
- What is a dilapidation report, and when do you need one?A plain-English guide for builders, developers and the neighbours of building sites in NSW.