Association welcomes move to register inspectors
The Association of Building Consultants (ABC) has welcomed the State Government’s announcement that building inspectors in South Australia will be required to be formally registered, saying the reforms will strengthen consumer protection and lift professional standards across the industry.
ABC spokesperson and veteran building inspector, Chris Short, said the introduction of mandatory registration follows extensive discussions and advocacy from the ABC, whose long-standing policy position has called for clearer regulation, formal qualifications and improved oversight of practitioners.
“This reform is not just welcome - it is necessary. For too long, inexperienced and unqualified operators have been allowed to present themselves as building inspectors and consumers have paid the price,” Mr Short said.
“The lack of a mandatory registration system has enabled people with little or no construction experience to issue reports that can mislead buyers, undermine licensed builders and create costly disputes.”
The proposed registration system - particularly the requirement for five years’ construction experience and formal technical qualifications - will ensure all inspectors meet a base level of knowledge that will ultimately benefit all consumers.
The ABC’s policy submission, submitted to government in April 2024, highlighted significant risks stemming from the absence of regulation for building consultants, including inconsistent inspection quality, poor consumer outcomes and challenges faced by licensed builders subjected to assessments from unqualified operators.
The Government’s proposed reforms - including qualification requirements, assessment of industry experience, and stronger accountability measures - align closely with the ABC’s recommendations, which call for mandatory licensing, minimum five years’ industry experience, recognition of building surveyors and engineers and improved standards for pre-purchase inspection reports.
Mr Short said the reforms will deliver immediate benefits.
“Consumers will be able to trust that their inspector knows what they’re doing - and the reputable, professional inspectors who do the right thing will no longer have their expertise undermined by unqualified operators.”
“This is a win for the industry, a win for builders operating with integrity, and most importantly, a win for every South Australian making one of the biggest financial decisions of their life.”
The ABC is committed to working closely with the State Government to ensure the final registration model is robust, enforceable and effectively implemented.
