Homeowners stung with a six-figure bill as pests make a costly meal out of their property!

Buying a home is often the culmination of years of saving and dreaming, especially for those who have reached a stage in life where they are looking to settle into their forever homes.

However, in a sobering revelation for homeowners, a costly oversight has emerged, leaving some individuals grappling with unexpected financial burdens.

This alarming development serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant maintenance and proactive measures to safeguard properties against potential threats.


Ben and his wife thought they had found their dream home in June 2023—a multi-million dollar property on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland that seemed perfect for their needs.

However, their joy quickly turned to dismay when, just days after moving in, they discovered that a part of it ‘was at risk of collapsing’ due to extensive termite damage that had been overlooked in a pre-purchase building pest report.

This oversight has led to a financial nightmare, with repairs costing the couple nearly $100,000—and counting.


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A couple was burdened with nearly $100,000 in repair costs due to extensive termite damage in their newly bought home. Credits: Shutterstock


The couple had done what many of us would consider ‘the right thing’: they hired a well-known company to conduct a thorough pest inspection.

‘We took time off work to attend the inspection with them. We walked around, and they raised no issues at all around termites,’ Ben said.

‘They sent us the report afterwards which said nothing about termites—that everything was ok. We relied on that to go and finish the purchase of the house.’


The discovery of the termite damage came as a shock to the couple.

‘We went through every panel in the garage, and found that it was so extensive that it was in every single panel,’ Ben recalled.

‘They had to stop working and leave the site as a safety precaution. That's how serious it was. It was everywhere.’

Termites are a well-known hazard in Australia, causing over $1.5 billion in damage to homes annually, according to a study by the University of Technology Sydney.

While the couple was fortunate that the damage was isolated to the garage, which was detached from the main house, the financial and emotional toll has been significant.

‘Most of that cost was in demolishing and rebuilding parts of the garage. We had to replace everything except the roof and some of the roof truss,’ Ben explained.

‘We had to replace the walls, the plaster, all the framing, everything had to be replaced and we even had to drill into the garage floor to put beams up to stop the roof falling down.’


Initially, the pest inspection company seemed cooperative, reinspecting the property and saying they’d ‘put it through as an insurance claim’.

However, the situation quickly deteriorated, with the company having ‘never admitted liability’, and communication breaking down.

‘They've pretty much refused to talk with us and left us in the hands of their insurers, who have done everything they can to avoid the claim,’ Ben claimed.

‘We're now having to go to court to recover our cost, which is obviously super stressful for the family.’

The company, in their defence, stated that a ‘large amount of stored goods in the garage’ caused ‘limitations’ on their inspection capabilities, making them unable to do an ‘internal cavity inspection’—a point they claimed to have been communicated to the couple.

Ben, however, disputed this, saying no such limitations or risks were mentioned during the inspection.


‘No termite activity was detected in the areas we were able to inspect,’ the company stated.

‘However, we noted to [Ben] the risk of termite activity was high, and made several recommendations in person on the day of inspection,’—a point also claimed by Ben to be untrue.

‘Our inspectors undertake their work with great consideration and skill, and while it’s unfortunate that termite activity has occurred on the property, we are confident we have acted in line with our contractual obligations and limitations,’ the company added.

Ben expressed that the circumstances have inflicted considerable stress on his family, and expressed his desire that no other family undergoes a similar ordeal.

‘I think the hardest part for us is that we trusted the pest inspection company to warn us if there was going to be anything seriously wrong, and they missed something that was so serious,’ Ben said.

‘The stress it's caused us to get it corrected, and the worry that we've then had about it extending to the rest of the house has been really significant. But, I think above that, is that once we realised that they'd missed something, we expected that they'd do the right thing and fix the damage.’


After already paying nearly $100,000, the couple described it as a 'hard decision' to pursue legal action against the company due to the expenses involved.

However, Ben said, ‘In the end, I think we decided on it based on doing what we think is fair, and we just think it's fundamentally unfair that you can make a mistake and not fix it.’

‘We so genuinely feel that we've done nothing wrong and have been taken advantage of.’

‘The main thing is that just be so careful with who you engage to do these reports. It can be so expensive if you get it wrong,’ he added.


As this incident highlighted, it is important to detect these kinds of problems to address them immediately.

Be it a simple ‘mysterious trail’ in the cupboard, or an unusual pile of dirt in the bathroom, these signs often lead to bigger problems in homes, so proactive measures are really essential.
Key Takeaways

  • An Australian couple discovered extensive termite damage in their new multi-million dollar Sunshine Coast home shortly after purchase.
  • Despite having a pest inspection conducted by a reputable company, the damage was missed, leading to nearly $100,000 in repair costs.
  • The pest inspection company denied liability for the oversight, and the couple are now considering legal action to recover their costs.
  • The ordeal caused significant stress for the family, highlighting the importance of thorough property inspections, and the potential consequences of missed pest damage.
What are your thoughts on the couple’s situation? Do you think the pest control company should be liable? Let’s hear your insights and discuss them in the comments below.
 
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No it's not. The responsibility for pest inspection is on the purchaser and at the purchasers cost.
However any damage found must'be fixed by the seller at their expense. If they are not prepared to do this you can pull out of the contract.
At least this is so in WA and SA.
I don't personally know about other states, but I would assume it is the same.
What if it is an old, rundown home that the buyer intends to demolish?
 
Yes, the Company are at fault, so are the people who they bought the house from. They obviously didn't have the house inspected before selling, which I thought was compulsory.
Never heard of inspections required prior to selling a property. Is that new or only in some states?
 
To avoid this happening, when the pest inspection is being done, FILM AND RECORD, this is an okay request to make of the company. if they get upset, then obviously they have something to hide and no confidence in themselves or their work. People who take pride in their work are more than happy to be filmed and recorded so you can pass on your great experience with them to others.
 
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If the damage was that bad surely Ben should have noticed something wrong with the garage, but the company wants taking to court.
Not necessarily - most people don't know what they are looking at with termite activity. I gave up using pest control companies over 25 years ago - after being ripped off one too many times with so called treatments. I inspect my slabs weekly externally and inspect base plates/trims/floor moldings when I am cleaning for any sign of activity - I have only had them try and gain entry twice in that time and treated inside and out and stopped them in their tracks. Because we live rural with lots of gum trees etc we are always alert to termite activity - when we find nests we break them up and open them to sunlight which kills them ( the magpies etc love to eat them as well) If you suspect activity just turn off radios etc and listen carefully - you will hear a slight fluttering sound ( like a moth) or a faint scratching sound INVESTIGATE.
 
Never heard of inspections required prior to selling a property. Is that new or only in some states?
No when buying you should have an inspection done - it turns up more than termites - it turns up faults etc in the building and electrical issues - gives you the chance to not buy if problems exist.
 
I would definitely be seeing a lawyer !

This is wrong on all levels. Pest inspections don't come cheap and you are paying for this service as peace of mind.

Shame on this company.

I'm sure the courts will fix this problem but unfortunately for this couple it also means time
 
It might have been cheaper to demolish the garage and replace with a steel framed new one.
 
Yes & possibly the ex owners. They may have covered up the area with ‘stuff’ so it was not possible to see it all.
I've seen numerous reports. They always claim an indemnity for spaces they can't reach.

But, both parties (sellers&buyers) should ensure that all spaces are reachable.

In this instance, the talk is that some parts of the garage walls were unreachable. The inspection company should have been able to use heat/activity seeking equipment on surfaces that can be accessed to determine if there is any activity in those garage walls.

The buyers were present. Did they?
 
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Our son had similar problems, First house in Brisbane didn't check the roof as the 10 ft. ceiling was too high. Second house on S/C hinterland paid for a inspection, no termites, a couple of old damage spots but all good. They moved in Son was vacuuming & bumped the wall with his hip & the whole wall section shook, frame all gone, he called the guy & he came & did a rough job to "Fixit" but if they checked anything it would have shown up. It doesn't install a lot of confidence in this industry
 
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Reactions: natalielocket
I think the pestcontrol business should pay for the damage as was stated there were no termites on inspection. Afterwards in their freestanding garage , nearly every panel had termites , how can you miss that ?
Getting them to court could be a very costly affair as it could go on and on.
We had a tradie who destroyed part of our backyard and we thought of getting a solicitor , I’m glad he warned us that it is going to be a very expensive part , so we did not go through with that , already contacted QBCC and they will inspect in a couple of weeks. I would certainly name and shame this pestcontrol company .
Maybe A Current Affair might want to look into this . This couple does not deserve what is happening to their property.
I wish them all the best for a positive outcome !
 
Definitely, The Pest control Company should come to the party. Also, it really annoys me that all States have different rules and regulations. Not only about buying and selling houses, but cars, etc You name it, its all different. Why can`t every State get on the same page. Just so darn frustrating
 
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The truth be known the previous owners knew of their existence and that is the reason the self.....TRUST NO ONE
 
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After watching the building inspector on FB I wouldn't buy another house or unit or duplex in Australia. Especially recently constructed ones that the Cowboys have had a go....
What it's gut uncovers is deplorable..... AFTER the government inspector has sighed off.... no scuples
 
Having over the last 30 years purchased 23 properties we have found pest inspections are always a problem.
Their contracts are full of loopholes, they basically have their backsides covered for every conceivable thing.
Excuses, excuses, excuses.
I wish you luck with your court case I would love to know the result. About time for them to have to face the music for not doing their job.
They are much the same as furniture removal companies.
They accept no responsibility for damage and you are expected to insure your furniture yourself, costing thousands of dollars, during the removal. Surely this is their responsibility??
My son lost everything in an interstate move when the truck caught on fire, they said he must have packed something flammable, which he hadn't.
Another company dropped and smashed 5 leadlight doors on a very expensive wall unit of mine. Refused to pay for it, said I should have had removal insurance. Surely this is their responsibility, most businesses carry insurance for damages???
I thought it was compulsory for any trades people to have their own or business insurance when dealing with those jobs dealing and handling the property of the person that hired their services….it just never occurred to me that they wouldn’t…
 
I thought it was compulsory for any trades people to have their own or business insurance when dealing with those jobs dealing and handling the property of the person that hired their services….it just never occurred to me that they wouldn’t…
Yes, I don't understand it.
My husband and I
Definitely, The Pest control Company should come to the party. Also, it really annoys me that all States have different rules and regulations. Not only about buying and selling houses, but cars, etc You name it, its all different. Why can`t every State get on the same page. Just so darn frustrating
I agree. I think the property purchasing laws in NSW are completely ridiculous.
You make an offer which is accepted,in principle, then you waste your time getting pest,building inspections, finance,etc
During this time the seller can change his mind and accept another offer or the purchaser can change their mind.
What an absolutely ridiculous shamozzle.
Here in the West you make an offer, if it is acceptable to the seller you sign an offer and acceptance and that is a binding contract.
This gives certainty to both parties. The only way the contract can be voided is by failure of the building or pest inspection or if the buyer can't get finance.
It is ridiculous that people can just change their mind,no security for either party
 
We once knew a person of great repute who was selling a home but first had to patch the ceiling where termites had exited in a main room. Not sure if the buyers had a termite inspection done in the roof space before buying. If they did & like the people in the story, this was overlooked or missed, especially if insulation was in place, this could have been a costly repair for the new owners.
 

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