SURVEY - IDENTIFICATION

An identification survey report shows where the house is in relation to the boundaries of the land. Sometimes a survey report is required by a lender. At an early stage of construction by a private builder (but not where the Commonwealth is the builder), a survey must be lodged with the government authorities to show that the building will be on the correct block and within the required distance of the boundary. Fences, garages, carports, retaining screen walls and the like are gen­erally not built at this stage. If you wish to be completely satisfied that there are no improvements which encroach from your neighbour's land to yours or vice versa, you should ask your solicitor to have a survey made before completion.

In the case of a privately built dwelling a survey will have been lodged with the Building Controller at an early stage of construction to show that the building is on the correct block and within the required distance of the boundaries. However, often no survey is required to be lodged in respect of subsequent works and structures such as garages, carport, retaining walls, screen walls etc and yet, they may not be fully within the bounds of the block. For the buyer to be satisfied that nothing encroaches on or from the land, a survey should be made before completion.

In the case of an ex government house there may be no survey in existence in relation to the original improvements. Some lenders require a survey to be carried out before they will advance funds. Even if the lender does not require this, it is recommend that a survey be carried out to assure the buyer that the boundary locations and fencelines are correct and the siting of the buildings are known.