Cracks and structural soundness in a Berwick rental
When a crack is cosmetic, and when it points to something the standard cares about.
In short: Structural soundness is one of the 15 standards. Most cracks are minor, but a pattern of them tells a story.
What the standard requires
The home must be structurally sound and weatherproof.
Fine settlement cracks
Hairline cracks in plaster are common in older homes and are recorded for monitoring.
When to look further
Wider cracks, doors that bind and floors out of level together point to movement worth investigating.
Mould as a sign
Mould on ceilings can show where water is getting in, which affects weatherproofing too.
Next steps
Where we see signs of movement, we suggest a defect investigation before the property is listed.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Berwick. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
