Requests for records of inspection of building work
The VBA has seen an increase in complaints from property owners where the relevant building surveyor has not provided sufficient information on inspections that have been carried out on their building work.
Some of the issues identified to-date include:
- Failing to action requests for records.
- Only providing records for ‘approved’ inspections.
- Not including the name or registration number of the person who undertook the inspection.
- Taking an excessive amount of time in providing the records to the property owner.
Building Surveyors are reminded of the requirements under section 35A of the Building Act 1993 and regulation 173 of the Building Regulations 2018, which set out the contents of a Record of Inspection of Building Work.
35A Record of inspection of building work
(1) On completion of an inspection under section 34 or 35, the relevant building surveyor must ensure that a record of the inspection containing the prescribed information is made.
(2) On receipt of a written request from any of the following persons, the relevant building surveyor must without delay give a copy of a record made under subsection (1) to that person—
- (a) the Authority;
- (b) the municipal building surveyor for the municipal district in which the building work was inspected;
- (c) the owner of the building or land in or on which the building work was carried out;
- (d) any other prescribed person.
173 Record of inspection of building work
For the purposes of section 35A(1) of the Act, a record of an inspection under section 34 or 35 of the Act must contain the following information—
- (a) the date and time of the inspection;
- (b) the purpose of the inspection;
- (c) the building permit number of the permit relating to the building work;
- (d) the address of the building or land on which the building work is being carried out;
- (e) the name and registration number of the registered building practitioner who carried out the inspection;
- (f) the stage of the building work inspected (if applicable);
- (g) the outcome of the inspection.
A building surveyor’s failure to communicate promptly and effectively with their client, the VBA and relevant parties, is a contravention of Principle 7 of the Code of Conduct for Building Surveyors. A range of actions and penalties may apply to a registered building surveyor for contraventions of the Code.