Termite Inspection: What It Covers, When You Need One, and Why It Is Separate from a Building Inspection

Quick answer

A termite inspection is a separate licensed job from a building inspection. At sale, the building report shows past termite damage. It cannot tell you if termites are still there and active right now. Only a licensed pest controller can answer that.

QBCC says a licensed pest controller should check your home at least once a year. In high hazard areas, you need more frequent checks. This guide covers what each type of inspection includes, which Australian Standard applies, and how often to book.

Two separate licensed jobs: a building inspection and a termite inspection

The phrase 'building and pest inspection' sounds like one job. It is two. Under QBCC guidance, only a licensed building inspector can do pre-purchase building inspections. Only a licensed pest controller can do termite inspections. These are separate licences.

At property sale, the building inspection looks at the home's structure: roof, walls, foundations, drainage, and defects. A pest inspection checks if timber pests are present and active right now. The two reports answer different questions. You need both.

Even when one person gives you a combined report, it covers two separate checks under two different Australian Standards. Knowing which standard applies tells you what must be in the report.

A building inspection finds past termite damage but cannot tell you if termites are still active

The building inspection covers the home's structure. QBCC's scope for a building inspector includes faulty roofs, leaking ceilings, cracked walls, damaged foundations, mould, and drainage issues. If termites have caused damage to the structure, a good inspector should flag the signs they can see.

But the building inspection cannot tell you if termites are still there. Per NSW guidance, the building report should identify any visual damage caused by termites. It will not include whether termites are still around. That is a question only a pest inspection can answer.

A clean building report is not the same as a clear pest report. Termites may still be active in wall voids, roof spaces, or subfloor areas that showed no damage at the time. That is the gap that matters.

A pest inspector checks for live termite activity, past damage, and whether your home already has a termite system

A licensed pest controller checks for three things: termites, signs of termite damage, and any termite system already in place. That third item matters. Many homes already have a barrier or bait system from a past treatment. The inspector checks if it is still working and if it needs refreshing.

The inspection is done without opening walls. The inspector works through areas that are open to view. Qualified inspectors often use a torch for the subfloor, roof void, and spots hard to reach; a sounding tool (a donger) to detect hollow timber; moisture meters to find damp patches; and thermal cameras to pick up heat from active feeding. These tools confirm or rule out activity the naked eye alone cannot detect.

The tools used are chosen by the inspector for each property. The above list reflects common practice per Queensland Government biosecurity guidance. No tool is mandated by name.

Two Australian Standards govern the two inspection types

AS 3660.2:2017 covers routine termite inspections of homes you own. AS 4349.3-2010 covers the timber pest inspection at property sale. Different standards. Different jobs. Knowing which one applies tells you what must be in the report.

Aspect	AS 3660.2:2017 (routine inspection)	AS 4349.3-2010 (at-sale inspection)
Full title	Termite management Part 2: In and around existing buildings and structures	Inspection of buildings, Part 3: Timber pest inspections
Who commissions it	Existing homeowner as part of ongoing property management	Property buyer (or vendor) as part of pre-purchase due diligence
When it applies	Annual or periodic inspection of a property you own or occupy	Before finalising a property purchase
Primary purpose	Detection and management of subterranean termite activity; ongoing management regime	Non-invasive inspection for active timber pest activity; report for transaction due diligence
Who performs it	Licensed pest controller (licensed pest management technician)	Suitably qualified inspector (licensed pest controller)
Standard status	Published December 2017. Full text paywalled; scope extracted from Standards Australia public news article.	Published 2010. Pending revision as at 2026. Full text paywalled; cited as named authority only.

AS 3660.2:2017 backs the annual homeowner inspection. AS 4349.3-2010 backs the pre-sale pest inspection. Both are done by a licensed pest controller. Your inspector will advise which one applies.

Before buying, get your own pest inspection and make it a contract condition

QBCC is direct: get a building and pest inspection before you buy. Make it a contract condition that you must be happy with the results. That condition gives you the right to pull out if the pest inspector finds major termite activity or damage. Without it, you buy whatever is behind the walls.

A vendor may have already paid for a pre-sale inspection report. Per NSW guidance, that report can help. But it is not a stand-in for your own report. The vendor's report was ordered by the seller. Yours is ordered by you. Not the same thing.

NSW guidance also says to get a pest inspection if the property is in an area where termites are a known problem. Most of mainland Australia qualifies. Termites are present outside Tasmania. A home without a known, working termite system carries more risk in those areas.

If the inspection finds major termite activity, a licensed pest controller will scope and price treatment as a separate job. That is a point to discuss. Not a reason to walk away. The report tells you what the treatment involves.

Existing homeowners should get a termite inspection at least once a year

QBCC says homeowners should hire a licensed pest controller to inspect and report every year. In high hazard areas, inspect more often. This is the annual cadence AS 3660.2:2017 is built to support.

How often you need an inspection depends on where you live. For most homes in Australia outside Tasmania, once a year is the baseline. In North Queensland, where termites are very aggressive, QBCC says more frequent checks are needed. Your pest inspector will advise the right schedule for your home and your area.

Annual inspection is also how you check an existing termite system. A barrier or bait system does not last forever. The inspector checks if it is still working and if it needs to be refreshed. If you have had treatment before, this is how you know your cover is still active.

If you've spotted any signs of termites (mud tubes, hollow timber, blistered paint), book a licensed pest controller now. Do not wait. Annual inspection is the layer that catches problems before those signs show up.

A clear report means no active termites were found in areas that could be reached, not that no termites exist

Termite inspections are done without opening walls. The inspector does not open wall linings, dig under slabs, or reach into sealed voids. AS 4349.3-2010, which governs timber pest inspections at sale, sets minimum rules for this kind of non-invasive work. Every buyer and homeowner needs to know this limit.

A clear report means the inspector found no active termites in the areas they could reach at that time. Not a guarantee. Termites may still be active in hidden areas that could not be checked without opening walls.

This is why QBCC says annual re-inspection is needed. Conditions change. An inspection is a point-in-time read. A further check of hidden areas may be needed. That call is made by a licensed pest controller based on what they find, not something you can decide yourself.

What does a termite inspection cost?

Typical install costSureQuote pricing data

Install scope

A licensed pest controller inspects the property, checks for active termites and any termite system in place, and gives you a written report. Cost varies by property size and how easy it is to access.

$175 – $305General Pest Treatment · most homes

Check the price for my home See a fair-price estimate before you commit

Inspection and treatment are two separate jobs, each priced on their own. If the inspection finds active termites, a licensed pest controller will scope and price treatment as a follow-up job.

See the full job details See the full cost breakdown

What a termite inspection costs: property size, access, and the type of check

A standalone termite inspection is mainly a site visit and written report. Cost scales with property size and the time needed to check the subfloor, roof void, and any garden or outbuilding timbers.

A combined building and pest inspection at property sale covers both parts. These may be priced as a package when one inspector holds both licences, or priced apart when two inspectors carry out each part. Either way, two distinct checks.

Remote and rural properties may carry a travel cost. A city inspection does not. Your pest controller will price the job for your specific property.

Use the cost widget on this page for a current estimate, or see pest inspection and treatment costs for the full picture.

Common questions

How often should you get a termite inspection?

QBCC says at least once a year, or more often in high hazard areas such as North Queensland. The right schedule depends on where you live and any termite system you have in place. Your pest inspector will advise. Outside Queensland, check with a licensed local pest inspector.

How much is a termite inspection?

A termite inspection is mainly a site visit and written report. Cost varies by property size, access, and location. Use the cost widget on this page for a current estimate, or see the pest control services cost guide. No dollar figure is set here. Pricing renders live at publish.

What is included in a building and pest inspection?

A building and pest inspection at property sale is two separate inspections. The building inspection covers the home's structure: roof, walls, drainage, and defects. It may flag termite damage it can see but cannot tell you if termites are still active. The pest inspection, done by a licensed pest controller, checks for active termite activity. Per QBCC, the pest controller checks for termites, signs of termite damage, and any termite system in place. NSW guidance confirms the building report finds termite damage but will not say whether termites are still there.

Is a pest inspection worth it before buying?

Yes. Per NSW guidance, a building inspection finds termite damage but does not confirm if termites are still active. QBCC says to make the pest inspection a condition of the purchase contract so you can pull out if major termite activity is found. A vendor's building report is not a stand-in for your own pest inspection. In areas where termites are common, the pest inspection is your main tool for finding active termites before you commit.

What is a pest inspection?

A pest inspection (also called a termite inspection or white ant inspection) is a check of a property for signs of timber pests. For a home you own, it is governed by AS 3660.2:2017. For a property you are about to buy, it falls under AS 4349.3-2010. Both must be done by a licensed pest controller. The inspector checks for termites, signs of termite damage, and any termite system in place.

What is a building and pest inspection?

A building and pest inspection is two separate checks: a building report (by a licensed building inspector) and a pest inspection (by a licensed pest controller). The two may be bundled. One inspector can hold both licences. NSW guidance confirms they are separate assessments. The building report covers the home's structure and termite damage it can see. The pest inspection tells you if termites are still active. QBCC says to make both a condition of the purchase contract.

What is a termite and pest inspection?

A termite and pest inspection is a pest inspection focused on timber pests: subterranean termites (white ants) and drywood termites. Same job. Different name. A licensed pest controller carries out the check under AS 3660.2:2017 for homes you own, or AS 4349.3-2010 for a pre-purchase check. The inspector checks for termites, signs of termite damage, and any termite system in place.

Ready to book a termite inspection or get pest inspection quotes before you buy?

A licensed pest controller inspects the property, confirms whether termites are active, and gives you a written report. Connect with vetted local pest inspectors and get an estimate before anyone arrives.

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Sources

General information only. This guide is not a substitute for advice from a licensed pest controller. If you suspect termites or are about to purchase a property, consult a licensed pest controller for a professional assessment.

qbcc.qld.gov.auView source
nsw.gov.auView source
qbcc.qld.gov.auView source
business.qld.gov.auView source
standards.org.auView source
store.standards.org.auView source

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