The following is a copy of the terms and conditions which form part of the Little Pig Building Inspection Services Pre-Purchase Building Report you will receive. Please read them carefully and don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions.
Fees & Inspection Agreement
This Pre Purchase Building Inspection Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made on the date stated in the front page between:
The Little Pig Building Company Ltd operating as Little Pig Building Inspection Services (hereinafter “LPBIS”) first party and the Client named on the front page (hereinafter “Client”) second party.
(a) LPBIS carries on the business of conducting building inspections and providing building inspection reports and other services.
(b) The Client engages LPBIS to conduct a pre purchase building inspection and report findings (“Services”) performed at premises located at the address stated (“the Property”).
1. FEE:
The Client agrees to pay the fee stated in the Schedule for the performance of the Services selected. This amount shall be paid in full prior to completion of the Services (unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties). Should the Client fail to timely pay the fee, the Client will reimburse LPBIS all reasonably incurred fees associated with collection, including but not limited to administration costs, solicitor fees, and cost of litigation.
2. THE PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION:
The purpose of the inspection is to provide advice to a prospective purchaser or other interested parties regarding the condition of the property at the time of inspection.
3. THE SCOPE OF THE INSPECTION:
(a) The inspections shall comprise visual assessment of the property to identify major defects and form an opinion regarding the general condition of the property at the time of the inspection.
(b) This inspection will be carried out in compliance with NZS 4306:2005.
(c) The following areas shall be inspected where applicable:
(d) The interior of the building.
(e) The roof space.
(f) The exterior of the building.
(g) The sub-floor space.
(h) The roof exterior
(i) The property (but not secondary buildings unless by arrangement) within 30m of the building subject to inspection.
4. AREAS FOR INSPECTION:
The Client or its agent shall arrange right of entry, facilitate physical entry to the property and supply necessary information to enable the inspector to undertake the inspection and prepare a report. The inspector is not responsible for arranging entry to the property or parts of the property. Areas where reasonable entry is denied to the inspector, or where reasonable access is not available, are excluded from, and do not form part of, the inspection.
5. LIMITATIONS:
(a) The inspections and report does not include any areas that are concealed, contained, or cannot be seen, due to:
(i) furniture or other personal belongings concealing evidence of issues which may be discovered at a later date;
(ii) any furniture or personal belongings;
(iii) locked doors, pets, narrow boundary clearance, thick vegetation, small roof or crawl space and weather conditions.
(b) The inspector cannot move or relocate any furniture or personal belongings.
(c) Nothing will be dismantled and there will be no invasive inspection during the inspection.
(d) In cases where the services (water/gas/electricity) have not been used for some time prior to the inspection being carried out, such conditions may inhibit the detection of defects such as dampness caused by water leaks.
(e) The report is not a certificate of compliance, guarantee, warranty, or any form of insurance.
(f) The report does not include the identification of unauthorized building work or of work not compliant with building regulations.
(g) The report does not identify any individual minor defects.
6. REASONABLE ACCESS:
(a) Reasonable access does not include the cutting of access holes or the removal of screws and bolts or any other fastenings or sealants to access covers. Sub-floor areas sprayed with chemicals will not be inspected unless it is safe to do so.
(b) The following minimum access space is required:
| AREA | ACCESS HOLE | CRAWL SPACE | HEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof interior | 400 x 500 | 600 x 600 | Accessible from a 3.6m ladder |
| Roof exterior | Accessible from a 3.6m ladder |
7. EXCLUSIONS:
(a) Exclusions include inspection of asbestos, magnesite and mould.
8. STRATA PROPERTIES:
(a) The inspection is limited to the interior and the immediate exterior of the property to be inspected, as that is the extent of the individual property, and does not include common property and review of body corporate or similar reports.
(b) The Client is advised to obtain a full strata report, including all common areas of the property.
(c) The Client and any prospective purchaser is advised that their liability for the cost of repairing building defects is not restricted to the particular unit which they are proposing to purchase, but may include contribution to the whole of the common property.
(d) The Client acknowledges that it has been advised that the inspection and report by LPBIS of the Property and its immediate surrounds may be insufficient as an indicator of the total extent of overall liability of the Client to contribute to costs of repairs to the building of the Property should the Client proceed to purchase the Property.
9. PRE PURCHASE STRUCTURAL INSPECTION:
(a) The inspection is limited to assessment of the structure of the property, NZS 4306:2005.
(b) The purpose of the inspection is to provide advice to a prospective purchaser or other interested party regarding the condition of the structure of the property.
(c) The inspection shall comprise of a visual assessment of accessible areas of the property to identify major defects to the building structure and to form an opinion regarding the general condition of the structure of the property.
(d) The inspector shall only inspect the structural elements such as, internal & external walls, roof framing, ceiling framing, sub-floor framing, foundations, balconies & pergolas. The presence or otherwise of defects shall only be relevant when such defects relate to the structural condition of the building.
10. VENDOR INSPECTIONS:
Where the Client is a prospective vendor of the property the Client is required to notify the inspector of any existing conditions or issues of the property, on or before the inspection of the property.
11. EXTENT OF REPORTING:
(a) A written inspection report will be provided, describing any:
Major Defect;
Safety Hazard on the basis of comparison with a building of similar age and similar type, to the subject building and which is in reasonable condition, having been adequately maintained over the life of the building.
(b) The inspector works solely for the Client.
(c) The inspector has no vested interest in whether or not the property purchase is completed.
(d) The inspector does not perform repairs / referral for repair, to prevent a conflict of interest.
12. LIMIT OF LIABILITY:
(a) If LPBIS fails to perform the Services as provided herein or are careless or negligent in the performance of the Services, liability of LPBIS for any and all claims related thereto is limited to the fee paid for the Services, and the Client releases LPBIS from any and all additional liability to pay damages or compensation.
(b) The Client agrees there will be no recovery for consequential damages arising from any Services performed in accordance with this agreement.
(c) The Client understands and agrees that the performance of the Services, without this limitation of liability would be more technically exhaustive, likely require specialist advisors additional to the inspector and would cost substantially more than the fee paid for this limited visual inspection.
(d) The client agrees to notify the inspector in written form, within ten working days after discovery of the issue. The client agrees not to repair, replace or alter the issues raised prior to the inspector re-inspecting the property. If a dispute continues then an independent mediator will be required, each party is to pay their own costs.
13. CANCELLATION POLICY:
If the inspection is cancelled within a 24 hour period of the due date of the inspection or access is not granted at the agreed time of inspection (no show), the full fee of the inspection will be charged.
14. DISCLAIMER:
(a) Any report provided by LPBIS to the Client is based upon a visual inspection only report and non-invasive limited to those areas as set out in this agreement.
(b) The inspection report is confidential and intended for the exclusive benefit and use by the Client and their agent for the purpose of considering the purchase of the Property. The report, or any portion thereof, is not intended to be provided to or for the benefit any person not a party of this agreement. The Client acknowledges that if it allows or causes the report or any portion thereof to be disclosed or distributed to any third party, it indemnifies, defends, and holds harmless LPBIS for any claims or actions based on the Services or the report brought by any party.
15. DISCLAIMER – Elevated Moisture Readings:
Moisture readings recorded in our reports are obtained using a non-invasive scanning moisture meter. This device detects elevated moisture levels across a range of materials, including plasterboard wall linings and underlying timber framing.
Moisture may enter structural cavities through cracks or defects in the external cladding system. Once inside, moisture can evaporate from the back of the cladding and be absorbed by materials within the wall space. Plasterboard linings typically absorb this moisture more readily than timber, which can result in elevated readings even when the framing itself has not deteriorated.
The degree of deterioration depends on the severity and duration of moisture ingress. In some instances, only the plasterboard may be affected, while in others, significant damage to concealed structural framing may be present.
The presence or absence of framing damage cannot be confirmed by scan meter testing alone. Definitive confirmation requires invasive investigation at the site of the elevated readings, which involves the removal of a small section of lining and checking:
• the condition of the timber framing,
• the back face of the exterior cladding, and
• and removed lining material.
Only this process can accurately establish the extent of moisture ingress and determine what remedial action may be required.
16. DISCLOSURE – Plumbing and Shower Fittings:
At the time of inspection, all accessible plumbing fittings, including showers, taps, and visible waste outlets, will be visually assessed and adjacent surfaces tested with a moisture meter. However, plumbing systems and shower enclosures are concealed for the most part and cannot be fully assessed without invasive testing, which is outside the scope of an inspection in accordance with NZS 4306:2005.
It is important to note that:
• Plumbing fixtures and fittings may intermittently leak without showing elevated moisture levels during a limited-time inspection.
• Leaks can occur after the inspection due to normal use, deterioration of seals, failed joints, or changes in water pressure.
• The absence of elevated moisture readings at the time of inspection does not guarantee that these fittings are free from leaks, nor that they will remain watertight in future.
Limitation of Liability:
This report is based on a non-invasive visual inspection only. Neither the inspector nor Little Pig Building Inspection Services accepts any liability, responsibility, or obligation for hidden or future leaks, plumbing failures, or resultant damage. Responsibility for ongoing maintenance and repair of plumbing systems rests solely with the property owner or purchaser.
17. DISCLOSURE – structural Engineering Matters:
Our pre-purchase building inspections are carried out in accordance with NZS 4306:2005 – Residential Property Inspection, which provides for a visual, non-invasive inspection only. Under Section 1.3 (Exclusions) and Section 3.3 (Limitations and Conditions) of NZS 4306:2005, the inspection specifically excludes specialist engineering assessments or calculations.
Where elements of the structure may require detailed evaluation (such as altered load paths, undersized or cut framing members, foundation movement, floor or deck joists, bearer and pile, bracing to piles or other conditions that may affect structural performance), this falls outside the scope of a pre-purchase inspection. Such assessment is the role of a Chartered Professional Engineer, acting under the requirements of the Building Act 2004 (Part 1, Subpart 2, Sections 7 & 8 – definition of “Building Work” and “Restricted Building Work”) and the Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002.
LPBIS is not engaged or authorised to provide engineering design, certification, or structural adequacy reports. Any concerns identified should be referred to a CPEng Structural Engineer for further investigation and written advice.
Acceptance of Terms
Our inspections and reports are provided strictly on the basis of the Terms and Conditions set out herein. The scope of service is limited to a visual, non-invasive inspection carried out in accordance with NZS 4306:2005. By commissioning an inspection, the Client acknowledges and accepts these limitations.
If the Client does not accept these Terms and Conditions, they should not proceed with the inspection service.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude, restrict, or modify the application of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. The disclaimers are included solely to define the boundaries of our inspection services, not to sidestep or avoid the protections provided under New Zealand law.
See also our Privacy Policy.
