Home buyers have been warned that termites can be just as
fatal as rising interest rates, with termites biting much quicker
and more severely.
The warning comes after finding a home, recently purchased
without an inspection for over $500,000 in Wandin Victoria, having
close to an estimated $100,000 worth of termite damage.
The increasing risk of termite attacks in Australia can leave
home buyers financially and emotionally devastated, according to
Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian
Institute of Architects.
General Manager of Archicentre Paul
Daly said, "Termite attack risk can be increased with the clearing
of land in urban areas for major infrastructure projects such as
road works and freeways.
"Poorly maintained properties which have water leaks and
cluttered subfloors can also attract termites that can cause tens of
thousands of dollars worth of damage to a home without the home
owner even knowing until it is too late.
Image right: Termite species Coptotermes acinaciformis
"Home buyers are increasingly having both structural and timber
pest inspections carried out on proposed housing purchases as part
of their risk management strategy."
Mr Daly said that there are an estimated 130,000 termite
attacks in Australia per annum with a repair bill of $910 million
and costing an average of $7,000 each to rectify.
"Higher density planning strategies mean more disturbances of
termite nests, forcing the termites to seek out alternative food
sources and creating a greater difficulty in 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 may decide instead to sell
their homes."
Archicentre conducts thousands of pre-purchase property
inspections for consumers and in response to home buyers' requests
has added a Timber Pest Inspection Service with a $10,000 consumer
guarantee to its services to ensure costly termite and other timber
pest problems are investigated.
Archicentre has found during home inspections that some home
owners take steps to conceal the termite damage. For the unwary home
buyer this 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 termite 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 termite
damage.
A bedroom was locked during inspection times apparently "because
it contained valuables". In fact the floor had been totally
destroyed by termites.
Cost of Termites to Australian Home Owners
| Number of
households in Australia |
7.2
million |
| Estimated
number affected by termites |
(9%)
650,000 |
| Average
cycle time |
5 years
|
| Estimated
number of new attacks per annum |
130,000 |
| Average
rectification cost |
$7,000 |
| Estimated annual cost per annum |
$910
million |
Source: Archicentre
Research
www.archicentre.com.au
Media Enquiries:
Paul Daly General Manager of
Archicentre (03) 9819 4577 Mobile: 0403 021 369
Ron Smith
Corporate Media Communications (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329
201
