Housing density leading to more termites

Increasing housing densities and the failure of many builders to clean up their site is increasing the risk of termite attacks in Australia, according to a building advisory service.

Increasing housing densities and the failure of many builders to clean up their site is increasing the risk of termite attacks in Australia, according to a building advisory service.

State manager Queensland of Archicentre Ron Tanton said termite attack risk was also increased with the clearing of land in urban areas for major infrastructure projects such as freeways.

"Termites have become an increasing risk management consideration for home buyers who are having both structural and pest reports carried out on proposed housing purchases."

Mr Tanton said that there are an estimated 130,000 termite attacks per annum with a repair bill of $910 million and costing an average of $7,000 each to rectify.

"At Archicentre we are finding people ordering pre-purchase inspections are adding termite inspections onto their requests, especially with the increase in property prices.

Mr Tanton said higher density planning strategies meant more disturbances of termite nests, the forcing of termites to seek out alternative food sources and a greater difficulty of protecting properties from attack.

"When some home owners are confronted with the realisation that their home is infested by termites and that the eradication and damage cost could be expensive, they decide instead to sell their homes."

Archicentre conducts thousands of pre-purchase housing inspections for consumers and in response to home buyers' requests has added a Pest Inspection Service with a $10,000 consumer guarantee to its services to ensure costly termite and pest problems are investigated.

In some cases Archicentre has found homeowners take steps to conceal the problem which for the unwary home buyer can mean an expensive lesson especially when access to areas is denied or patch up jobs cover up the problems.

Some of the problems Archicentre has encountered during home inspections include:

• A mattress placed on the floor and heavy boxes strategically placed to conceal damage.
• Access hatch to the ceiling nailed shut to prevent access. The roof framing was badly affected and was sagging.
• Skirtings and architraves patched and painted to conceal damage.
• A bedroom was locked during inspection times apparently "because it contained valuables". In fact the floor had been totally destroyed.

Originally published as Housing density leading to more termites