Cracks, movement and the structural soundness standard in Melton South
A Victorian rental must be structurally sound and weatherproof. Which cracks matter for a Melton South rental, and which are only cosmetic.
In short: Hairline plaster cracks rarely fail the standard. Cracks wide enough to let water in, doors and windows forced out of square, and leaks through the roof or walls can, and they need repair or an engineer before the home is listed.
What structurally sound and weatherproof means
The standard asks that the home is structurally sound and keeps the weather out. It does not demand a crack free house. It asks whether the structure is moving in a way that matters, and whether water is getting in.
Why Melton South homes move
Much of the Melton area sits on reactive clay, which swells when wet and shrinks in a dry summer. Older homes with garden beds built against the walls, or downpipes discharging at the footings, show it first as cracking above doors and windows.
Cracks we record
Cracks in brick veneer wide enough to let moisture into the wall, cracking that runs from the corners of openings, doors that bind or no longer latch, and ceiling stains where water has come through. Each is photographed and located.
When to call an engineer
Where cracking is wide, recent or growing, the report says so and recommends a structural engineer. We do not certify structure, and a visual inspection cannot tell how far the movement will go.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Melton South. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
