Dilapidation Report Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of a dilapidation (property condition) report in Australia.
A dilapidation report records the pre-existing condition of neighbouring properties before excavation or demolition, it’s your protection against false damage claims.
💰 Ways to save
- Order it before any work starts, including site preparation; a report taken after damage appears is worthless as evidence and often won't satisfy your development consent.
- Book the pre-works and post-works comparison reports together as a discounted package, since skipping the post-works report wastes the pre-works one.
- Where a neighbour won't grant access, document an external-only inspection plus your written access offer and their refusal, as no-access properties are your biggest exposure.
How we estimate this
A dilapidation (property condition) report is priced per adjoining property and prepared to the AS 4349.1 standard. A unit or apartment typically costs $400–$700, a house $700–$1,200 (large or heritage homes $1,200–$2,000+), and a commercial property $1,500–$5,000+. Because it's per property, covering several neighbours multiplies the cost, though developers booking multiple reports together usually get a discount for the single mobilisation.
Pricing reviewed: June 2026.
Pricing reviewed June 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
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Understanding dilapidation report costs in Australia
A dilapidation (property condition) report is priced per adjoining property and prepared to the AS 4349.1 standard. A unit or apartment typically costs $400–$700, a house $700–$1,200 (large or heritage homes $1,200–$2,000+), and a commercial property $1,500–$5,000+. Because it's per property, covering several neighbours multiplies the cost, though developers booking multiple reports together usually get a discount for the single mobilisation.
The report's purpose is to document the existing condition of neighbouring properties before your work begins, creating a dated record that protects you against later claims that your excavation or demolition caused pre-existing cracks and defects. A matching post-works report then provides the comparison, which is why the two are usually ordered as a pair.
In NSW, a dilapidation report is commonly required as a condition of development consent (under the EP&A Act) for excavation deeper than about a metre, demolition, piling, or building close to a boundary, and it must be accepted before any work starts, including site preparation. Express turnaround adds roughly 25–50%, and a post-works comparison report typically costs about 60–80% of the original.
The two biggest mistakes are ordering it too late, which destroys its evidentiary value, and not securing access to neighbouring properties. These are indicative ranges; confirm whether your consent requires one, how many properties it must cover and the access arrangements before booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dilapidation report cost in Australia?
Roughly $400–$700 for a unit, $700–$1,200 for a house and $1,500–$5,000+ for a commercial property in 2026, charged per adjoining property, with bundled discounts for several at once.
Why do I need a dilapidation report?
It records neighbours' pre-existing condition before excavation or demolition, protecting you from false damage claims, and in NSW is often a condition of development consent.
When should I order it?
Before any work begins, including site preparation. A report taken after damage appears has no evidentiary value, so the timing is critical.
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