Who Pays for a Dilapidation Report in Western Australia?

Scenario 1: You Are a Homeowner Protecting Your Own Property

If construction, demolition, or excavation is happening near your home and you want to document the current condition of your property, you pay for the report. This is the most common scenario for Perth homeowners who want peace of mind.

While it may feel unfair to pay for a report prompted by someone else’s project, the investment protects you. If damage occurs during construction, your dilapidation report provides dated, photographic evidence of your property’s pre-construction condition — making it far easier to pursue a claim for repairs.

For a standard residential property in Perth, expect to pay between $400 and $900 depending on the size and complexity. This is a fraction of the cost of resolving a dispute without evidence. For detailed pricing, see our cost guide.

Scenario 2: A Developer or Builder Is Required by Council

When a Perth council attaches a dilapidation report condition to a development approval (DA), the developer or builder pays. This is the most clear-cut scenario.

The condition typically requires the developer to commission a pre-construction dilapidation survey of adjoining properties at their own expense. The report must be lodged with the council before a building permit is issued. If the developer fails to comply, the council can refuse to issue the permit or issue a stop-work order.

In practice, this means the developer will engage a qualified building surveyor or structural engineer, organise access to neighbouring properties, and cover all costs. If a developer approaches you asking for access to survey your property, they should not be asking you to pay for it — it is their DA condition and their financial responsibility.

Scenario 3: Government Infrastructure Projects

When government agencies such as Main Roads WA, the Public Transport Authority, or Water Corporation undertake major infrastructure works near your property, the government agency typically pays for dilapidation reports on affected properties.

Large projects — road widening, rail construction, sewer upgrades, and pipeline installations — routinely include dilapidation surveys as part of their project management plans. The agency will usually engage a surveyor to document the condition of nearby properties before work begins.

If a government project is happening near your Perth property and no one has contacted you about a survey, it is worth reaching out to the project manager directly. In some cases, smaller government projects may not automatically include dilapidation surveys, so you may need to commission your own report to protect your interests.

Scenario 4: Strata and Body Corporate Properties

For strata properties in Perth, the cost of a dilapidation report may be shared among lot owners through the body corporate (strata company). This typically applies when construction near the strata complex could affect common property areas — driveways, car parks, external walls, and shared infrastructure.

The strata council or manager will usually raise a motion at a general meeting to approve the expenditure. In urgent situations, the strata manager may have delegated authority to commission the report without a full meeting, depending on the strata by-laws and the amount involved.

If you are an individual lot owner concerned about damage to your specific unit (rather than common property), you may need to commission and pay for your own report covering your lot.

What Does WA Law Say About Cost Responsibility?

Western Australia does not have specific legislation that dictates who must pay for a dilapidation report in every circumstance. The cost responsibility is determined by:

• Development approval conditions — if the council conditions your DA, the applicant (developer/builder) bears the cost.
• Contractual obligations — some building contracts include clauses requiring the builder to commission dilapidation surveys.
• Common law duty of care — parties undertaking construction have a general duty not to cause damage to neighbouring properties, which practically means they should document the baseline condition.
• Voluntary protection — homeowners who commission reports on their own property do so at their own cost as a risk-management measure.

The key takeaway: whoever has the most to lose from a damage dispute should ensure a dilapidation report exists. In most cases, that means both the person undertaking construction and the neighbouring property owner benefit from having a report.

Related Resources

• Dilapidation Report Cost in Perth — detailed pricing by property type and scope.
• Do You Need a Dilapidation Report? — when one is mandatory vs recommended.
• Construction Dilapidation Reports — reports for builders and developers.
• Commercial Dilapidation Reports — surveys for commercial and strata properties.