A free building defect report template for Australian handovers
A building defect report is the record both sides reach for when the builder says it was never on the list. This template has the fields that survive that argument: a numbered, located, dated defect with the remedy expected, and a place for the re-inspection result. It prints on one landscape page.
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The template
Print it, or choose Save as PDF in the print dialog. Free to copy and adapt. No email address, no sign up.
Landscape prints best. In the print dialog, choose Save as PDF to keep a copy.
Building defect report
Page ___ of ___
- Property address
- Owner / client
- Builder
- Inspected by
- Inspection date
- Inspection type (PCI, handover, end of DLP)
| No. | Location (area, room, element) | Defect observed | Rectification required | Trade | Priority | Photo ref | Re-inspected / result |
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This form records observations. It does not certify compliance or replace advice from a licensed building inspector where one is required. Template from snaglistreport.com. Free to copy and use.
What a defect report needs to survive a dispute
Australian home building disputes turn on records. Whether the argument is with the builder at practical completion, at the end of the defects liability period, or later in front of a tribunal, the questions are the same: when was the defect reported, exactly where is it, what was observed, and what was the builder asked to do about it. A report that answers all four on every line is worth more than a long one that answers two.
The columns above are the minimum that answers them. The report header dates the inspection and names the inspection type, because a pre-handover list and an end of defects period list are used differently under the contract. The defects liability period guide explains why the dates matter, and the pre-handover inspection checklist covers what to look at.
What each column is for
- Number. Permanent, never reused. The re-inspection refers to the same numbers.
- Location. Area, room and element, precise enough that a trade who was not on the walk can find it.
- Defect observed. The condition, as fact, with a measurement where a tolerance is in question. Cite the standard or guide you are measuring against if you know it, or leave it to the builder to argue.
- Rectification required. What done looks like. This is the column that prevents a cosmetic touch up being offered for a defect that needs replacement.
- Trade and priority. Who, and whether it must be done before handover or can fall inside the defects period.
- Photo reference. Match the row to the photographs on your phone. Every defect needs a locating shot and a detail shot.
- Re-inspected and result. Filled in by the inspector on the follow up walk: rectified, not rectified, or partly, with the date.
When you will use it
- Pre-handover or practical completion inspection. The list of what must be rectified before keys are released or the certificate is issued.
- During the defects liability period. Anything that appears after handover, reported in writing with a date.
- End of defects period inspection. The final schedule of what remains open. The end of DLP inspection guide explains how to run it.
- Commercial handover and superintendent walks. Same columns, more items, and a strong reason to keep one list per trade.
The same report with photos
Site Audit was built in Melbourne for exactly this document. It records every column above on an Android phone with the photographs attached to the defect, as many as it needs, each captioned and marked up, and generates the report as a PDF with your business details on the cover, a summary table and a page per defect. The re-inspection updates the status against the same numbers and issues a new dated PDF.
One complete project is free, PDF included. Pro is a one time unlock for unlimited projects, clean reports, one filtered PDF per trade and CSV export. See the sample report for the output and the defect report app page for the workflow.