Sample Dilapidation Report: See What a Real Report Looks Like (Hobart)

Before you commission a dilapidation report, it helps to understand what the finished product looks like. This page provides a detailed preview of a sample dilapidation report from a Hobart residential property, showing the key sections, level of detail, and documentation standards you should expect from a qualified professional. All identifying details have been redacted for privacy.

Why Review a Sample Report?

Reviewing a sample dilapidation report before engaging a professional has several practical benefits. It helps you understand what level of detail to expect, evaluate the quality of reports you receive, ask informed questions when briefing an inspector, and know what a thorough assessment looks like compared to a superficial one. For background on the process, visit our guide to dilapidation reports.

Section 1: Cover Page and Executive Summary

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Pre-Construction Dilapidation Report

Property Address:

[Redacted], Sandy Bay, TAS 7005

Inspection Date:

[Redacted]

Prepared By:

[Registered Building Surveyor, CBOS Reg. No. Redacted]

Commissioned By:

[Redacted] Developments Pty Ltd

Related DA:

PLN-[Redacted] Hobart City Council

Report Type:

Pre-Construction Dilapidation Assessment

Executive Summary:

"This report documents the existing condition of the residential property at [address redacted], Sandy Bay, prior to the commencement of excavation and construction works approved under PLN-[redacted]. The property is a circa 1920s weatherboard dwelling on a brick foundation. The inspection identified [number redacted] pre-existing defects including established cracking in external brickwork, minor internal plaster cracking, and weathering-related deterioration consistent with the age and construction type of the building."

Section 2: Methodology

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Scope: Visual inspection of all accessible internal and external areas of the property at [address redacted]. The inspection covered the main dwelling, attached garage, front and rear yards, driveway, boundary fences, and retaining walls.

Method: Systematic visual assessment conducted on [date redacted] between 9:00 AM and 12:15 PM. Weather conditions were overcast with no rain. The inspection proceeded from the street frontage clockwise around the exterior, followed by a room-by-room internal assessment starting from the entry.

Equipment: Canon EOS R6 digital camera with 24-105mm lens, 6mm crack width gauge, 1200mm spirit level, Bosch GLM 50C laser distance measurer, Tramex moisture meter.

Limitations: Subfloor access was limited to the access hatch in the hallway. Roof space was accessed via the manhole in the laundry. Areas behind fixed furniture and stored items were not inspected. This report documents visual conditions only and does not include invasive investigation or structural analysis.

Section 3: Findings Summary

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Area	Finding	Severity	Photo Refs
North external wall	Stepped cracking in brickwork below window, 2-3mm width	Moderate	Photos 12-15
Driveway	Longitudinal crack along east edge, 1-2mm width, 4m length	Minor	Photos 28-30
Living room ceiling	Hairline cracking at cornice junction, north-east corner	Minor	Photos 45-47
Bathroom floor	Cracked floor tile near shower entry, grout deterioration	Minor	Photos 62-64
Retaining wall (south)	Visible lean of approximately 15mm, mortar deterioration	Moderate	Photos 78-82

Note: This is a representative excerpt. A full findings summary typically includes 15-40+ items for a standard Hobart residential property.

Section 4: Photographic Documentation

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[Photo Redacted]

Photo 12: North External Wall - Stepped Cracking

Stepped cracking visible in brickwork below the kitchen window on the north elevation. Crack width measured at 2-3mm using a crack gauge. Pattern is consistent with historic foundation settlement. No evidence of recent movement. Mortar in cracked joints is intact but aged.

[Photo Redacted]

Photo 13: North External Wall - Close-Up of Crack

Close-up of the stepped crack shown in Photo 12 with crack gauge positioned to show width. Maximum width of 3mm measured at the widest point, approximately 900mm above ground level. Crack edges show weathering consistent with long-standing condition.

Note: A complete report for this property contained 187 photographs. Each photograph is numbered, captioned, and cross-referenced to the written findings.

What to Look For in Your Report

When you receive a dilapidation report for your Hobart property, check that it includes all the sections shown in this sample. A quality report should have clearly identified professional credentials and registration details, a defined methodology with equipment listed, systematic coverage of all accessible areas, comprehensive photography with detailed captions, a findings summary table for quick reference, and a signed assessor's declaration.

If you want to see the full template structure, download our free dilapidation report template which covers every section in detail. For more about what goes into a dilapidation report, read our cost guide to understand what factors affect pricing.

Download the Full Sample Report

Get the complete sample dilapidation report as a PDF, showing all sections from cover page through to the assessor's declaration. All identifying details have been redacted.

Frequently Asked Questions

This sample is based on real dilapidation reports prepared for Hobart properties, but all identifying details including addresses, property owner names, and inspector details have been redacted to protect privacy. The structure, content, and level of detail accurately represent what you would receive from a qualified professional conducting a dilapidation inspection in Hobart.

A dilapidation report for a standard Hobart residential property typically runs between 30 and 80 pages, depending on the size of the property and the number of defects documented. The photographic appendix often accounts for the majority of the page count. Larger commercial properties or heritage buildings may produce reports exceeding 100 pages. The sample provided here shows excerpts from each section to give you a representative overview without the full length.

Yes. This sample can serve as a benchmark for assessing the quality and completeness of a dilapidation report you have received. A professional report should include all the key sections shown here: cover page with assessor credentials, methodology description, systematic area-by-area documentation, comprehensive photography, and a signed declaration. If your report is significantly less detailed, consider requesting additional documentation or engaging a different professional for a supplementary assessment.

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