How Often Should You Inspect for Termites in Perth?

What the Australian Standard says

AS 3660.2:2017 is the national guideline for termite management in existing buildings. It states that inspection shall be conducted at not more than 12 month intervals. An acceptable level of risk is obtained where the frequency of inspection and risk reduction measures combine so that undetected termite activity is unlikely to result in significant structural or economic damage.

The Standard recognises that some properties sit at higher risk and may warrant more frequent inspections. Where the risk is elevated, for example in a property with garden beds built against the wall, timber retaining walls, paving over inspection zones, or proximity to bushland, more frequent inspections may be recommended. See the Termite Inspection Perth page for details.

Why Perth's northern suburbs need annual checks

Perth's northern suburbs sit in different soil and construction zones, each with its own termite risk profile.

The coastal strip from Sorrento to Yanchep lies on deep Spearwood and Quindalup sands. These are free-draining, warm soils that subterranean termites can tunnel through easily. Forage galleries can extend 50 metres or more from the nest. Garden beds built against brick walls and paving that meets slab edges create bridging points where termites can move unseen.

Further inland, suburbs like Greenwood, Warwick and Kingsley sit on limestone ridges. Moisture can accumulate in wall cavities and at slab edges, creating conducive conditions. Older brick-and-tile homes from the 1970s and 1980s often have decades of garden build-up against the walls, added timber pergolas and no maintained chemical barrier. Bushland reserves such as Yellagonga Regional Park, Warwick Bushland and Star Swamp maintain termite populations. If your property is within a few streets of a reserve, termite pressure is higher.

Termite mudding and hollow galleries visible in damaged timber structure — Termite mudding and hollowed galleries. Once damage is this visible, structural repair costs rise. Early detection through inspection is the goal. Photo: Entomology, CSIRO, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.

Higher-risk properties need more frequent inspection

A standard timber-framed home in a suburban estate with clear garden beds, open roof void and sub-floor, and no nearby bushland sits at baseline risk. Annual inspection follows the standard.

Higher-risk properties warrant more frequent checks. These include homes with:

Garden beds or mulch bridging the slab edge or sitting above inspection zones.
Timber retaining walls, sleepers or deck timbers in ground contact.
Paving or concrete against external walls (blocking inspection and easy entry).
Sub-floor areas packed with stored goods, reducing visibility and airflow.
No maintained termite management system or a system installed more than a decade ago.
A recent extension or ground-level renovation that may have breached an existing barrier.
Property within a few streets of bushland or a nature reserve.

If your property ticks three or more of these, ask the inspector for more frequent checks. You get the price in writing before we book. See what termite treatment costs, or enquire about termite management systems on our investment guide.

What a full inspection covers

An AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection is visual, non-invasive and takes 60 to 90 minutes for a typical single-storey home. It covers:

Roof void: rafters, battens, ceiling joists, wall plates and tops of internal walls for mud leads, damage and moisture.
Sub-floor (where one exists): bearers, joists, stumps, piers, ant caps, ventilation and drainage.
Interior: every room, skirtings, architraves, door and window frames, built-ins, wet-area timbers and structural timber.
Exterior: slab edge, weep holes, wall-to-ground contact, paving and garden beds, timber decks, pergolas, garages and carports, sheds and external stairs.
Grounds: fences, retaining walls, sleepers, tree stumps, timber on the ground and trees within 50 metres of the building where they are on the property.

Timbers are sounded with a tapping tool and read with a moisture meter where the surface allows. The inspector photographs evidence and points of interest. The photos go into the report, not a filing cabinet.

What an inspection cannot see

AS 4349.3 is a visual inspection of accessible areas. It cannot see inside a wall cavity, under a fixed floor covering, behind stored goods, under a concrete slab or inside a timber piece.

If the inspector taps on a skirting board and it sounds hollow, or if moisture readings suggest activity behind a surface, they will tell you and recommend an invasive inspection with your written consent. An invasive look, opening a wall, lifting carpet or drilling into timber, is quoted separately.

A clear report means no evidence was found in the accessible areas on the day. It is not a statement about the future. That is why the Standard recommends inspections at intervals not exceeding 12 months.

Why you cannot skip annual inspection

Termites work in darkness. By the time a skirting board sounds hollow or a door frame gives under thumb pressure, the colony has usually been feeding for months. Structural damage may already be extensive. Early detection is the only tool that stops damage before it costs thousands to repair.

The Standard states: "Termites can build around termite management systems, but visible evidence of termites or their workings can then be more readily detected during regular, competent inspections." In other words, the barrier buys time; the inspection catches the termites.

Pests can also re-enter from next door. Your neighbour's untreated garden or a nearby reserve is a source. Annual inspection keeps you aware.

Cost and booking

We confirm the price in writing before booking based on the size and construction of your property.

There is no call-out fee and no deposit for inspections. Inspections have no re-treatment period (terms at djpest.com.au/warranty). We diarise your next 12-month inspection and remind you when it is due. If active termites are found during an inspection, the treatment is quoted separately on our found live termites guide.

Text your suburb and what you're seeing to 0468 170 107 for a written price.

Frequently asked

Is annual inspection really necessary every year?

Yes. AS 3660.2 recommends not more than 12 months between inspections. The northern suburbs, with warm sandy soil, garden beds against walls, old brick homes and proximity to bushland reserves, warrant no exceptions. Annual is the sensible default.

What if I have a termite management system installed?

Your AS 3660.2 certificate is conditional on annual inspections. Regular inspections catch termites if they bridge or breach the barrier. See termite damage and insurance if you're concerned about risk.

Can I inspect my own home instead?

You can walk around looking, but a competent inspection follows AS 4349.3, uses sounding tools and a moisture meter, covers the roof void and sub-floor where accessible, and produces a written report with photos. A licensed inspector understands termite behaviour, can read the signs and knows where to look.

What if my house is only 10 years old and looks fine?

Termites do not announce themselves. They work underground and inside timber, invisible until damage is advanced. Brick-and-tile homes from the 1970s and 1980s in Duncraig, Padbury and Warwick often have decades of garden build-up against the walls, added timber pergolas and no maintained chemical barrier, creating higher risk. Newer estates generally have a physical or chemical system installed at construction, but only if it is maintained and not bridged by later work. Inspect annually regardless of age.

Do I need inspection if I have never seen termites?

Yes. Absence of visible termites does not mean absence of termites. They live underground and inside timber, in mud galleries you cannot see from the surface. An inspection is the only way to know your status. If there is activity, you catch it early.

What happens if an inspection finds live termites?

We show you, photograph them and identify the species. We do not disturb the workings, because that makes them harder to treat. You receive the report with a treatment recommendation and an itemised price for a management system. There is no obligation to have us do the treatment, and the inspection price does not change.

Can I defer inspection if I am selling my house?

A pre-purchase timber pest inspection follows the same AS 4349.3 method as a routine inspection, but is written for someone who does not yet own the property. A seller-ordered inspection done early gives you time to quote and plan any repairs before settlement. A buyer-ordered inspection post-exchange may expose issues late in the process. We can usually inspect within two to three business days and report the same day, which suits a standard WA settlement timeline.

How much does it cost compared to treatment?

A standalone timber pest inspection is typically $250 to $350, GST inclusive. Annual inspections for a termite management system are quoted with the system. A termite chemical management system itself runs $2,500 to $5,500 depending on the perimeter and construction. Early detection via inspection costs a fraction of treatment. Prevention through awareness is far cheaper than repair.

Sources

Victorian Department of Health. Pest control, termites.
Australian Museum. Termites.
Queensland Business. Subterranean and drywood termites.
Queensland DPI. Subterranean termites in Queensland.
WA Department of Health. TG013 Termite management.

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