137B OWNER BUILDER REPORT
137B Owner Builder defects Report required for your section 32 before you sell; the following is very important to secure the sale of your property:
If you are an owner builder and have built your home or property or parts of it not using a registered builder & you are thinking of selling within the first 6 & 1/2 years of building, you are required by law to have the work independently assessed by a registered building practitioner. You need to provide a 137B Owner Builder Defects report that needs to be attached into the Section 32 for the sale of your property.
This is where we can help!
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We are the Industry Accredited Owner Builder Inspection experts.
Owner Builder Inspection Report; Secure the sale of your home with a no hassle, same day report.
Report emailed to you & your conveyancer / solicitor the same business day .
The137B Owner builder defect report is required to be attached to your section 32 for the sale of your property and disclosed to potential purchasers.
Not providing an
Owner builder Defect report to the purchaser exposes the sale of your property from being potentially cancelled / revoked should the purchaser change their mind or just decide that there is too much risk in proceeding with the purchase of your property.
Full disclosure will help protect the sale of your property & give you peace of mind.
At Inspect Direct, we specialise in providing the owner builder with
137B Defects Report to assist and help you with the sales process. Don’t jeopardise your sale. Call us today for same day service at very competitive prices.
We guarantee that you will have the report processed & emailed to you the same business day that the inspection is performed.
We inspect properties within Melbourne and Surrounding suburbs.We provide:
Owner builder inspection.
Owner builder inspection report.
Owner Builder Building defects report.
137B Owner Builder report.
Guaranteed 24hr turnaround
Where the value of the domestic work is over $16,000, then you must also obtain Warranty Insurance. Amounts of less than $16,000 require only an Owner Builder Defect Report.
- A Legal Must-Have: If you’re an owner-builder selling a property within 6 years and 6 months of completing building work, you are legally required to provide a Section 137B Owner Builders Report.
- Protects Everyone: The report identifies any defects or incomplete work, giving buyers a transparent account of the property’s condition and protecting you from future disputes.
- Must Be Independent: Only a Registered Building Practitioner (like a building surveyor, architect, or engineer) who is independent of you can prepare the report.
- Part of Your Sales Contract: The report must be attached to the Section 32 Vendor Statement. If the work was valued over $16,000, you’ll also need Owner Builder Warranty Insurance.
- Consequences for Non-Compliance: Failing to provide a report can lead to fines, contract disputes, or even the cancellation of your property sale.
Resource material for Owner Builders:
Before selling your home, rely on Inspect Direct for a comprehensive Owner building report if you’ve recently performed one of the following:
Show purchasers that you have built your property to correct standards. Our Owner builder report covers:
All new buildings.
All new constructions.
Extensions & Additions
Internal & external refurbishments
Garages & Carports
Sheds
Verandas / Pergolas
Decks / Terrace
Internal renovations / refurbishments such as new bathrooms, new kitchens, cabinets & cupboards.
External renovations
Pools & Spas including pool barriers / fences
All types of buildings
Landscaping
Retaining walls
Driveways & paving
Fences
All External works
What's a 137B Owner Builder Defect Inspection Report?
The Building Act 1993 Section 137B refers to building works that have been carried out by an Owner Builder and the owner then wants to sell the home within 6.5 years of the works being completed.
Under the Act, an owner builder who carries out building works on their property and then decides to sell the property within 6 years and 6 months of the works being completed must obtain a 137B Defects Inspection Report. (Commonly known as Section 137B Report)
This report is a description of the building works the owner builder had built. It could be any building work not limited to but including, carports, decks, garages, extension or entire homes. The report describes any defects including incomplete works, deterioration, footings issues, framing issues, roof defects etc.
A 137B inspection report gets attached to the Section 32 Contract of Sale for potential buyers to see. If the value of the building work is more than $16,000, then building insurance must be obtained by the owner builder and a certificate of currency given to the buyer pre-contract. The insurance must cover structural defects for 6 years and non-structural defects for 2 years.
An owner builder is defined as someone who “constructs or renovates a domestic building on his or her own land, and who is not in the business of building”. Genuine owner builders do not intend to sell or rent the property immediately and must reside or intend to reside in the dwelling upon completion of the works. The Owner Builder must also be the owner of the property or the title holder.
A Section 137 B Inspection Report is required only if you sell the home within 6 years and 6 months of the works being completed. If you sell the home after 6 years and 6 months of the building works being completed, you don’t require one. The value of the works does not matter. The value of the works only matters in relation to warranty insurance. If the value of the works is over $16,000, the owner builder must get warranty insurance.
Only Registered Building Inspectors, Surveyors, Architects and Structural Engineers are legally authorised to carry out such inspection. Please note that registered builders are not authorised to do such inspection under the The Building Act 1993.
- A Legal Must-Have: If you’re an owner-builder selling a property within 6 years and 6 months of completing building work, you are legally required to provide a Section 137B Owner Builders Report.
- Protects Everyone: The report identifies any defects or incomplete work, giving buyers a transparent account of the property’s condition and protecting you from future disputes.
- Must Be Independent: Only a Registered Building Practitioner (like a building surveyor, architect, or engineer) who is independent of you can prepare the report.
- Part of Your Sales Contract: The report must be attached to the Section 32 Vendor Statement. If the work was valued over $16,000, you’ll also need Owner Builder Warranty Insurance.
- Consequences for Non-Compliance: Failing to provide a report can lead to fines, contract disputes, or even the cancellation of your property sale.