What should I do if I bought a house with no termite protection?
TL;DR — Quick Answer
If you buy a house without termite protection, arrange a professional termite inspection to check for existing activity or damage. A qualified pest professional can recommend suitable prevention options, such as termite barriers, monitoring systems or treatments, to help protect your home investment.
Bought a House with No Termite Protection? Here’s Your Sydney Action Plan
Congratulations on your new Sydney home. While unpacking and painting feel urgent, overlooking termite protection is the costliest mistake new owners make. Termites cause more structural damage in Australia than fire, flood and storms combined — and they do it in secret, often for 3–7 years before you see a single sign.
According to the CSIRO, 32% of Australian homes will experience termite activity during their lifetime. In Sydney’s warm, humid coastal climate, that risk jumps to roughly 40% according to Urban Pest Management Australia data. Most pre-purchase building reports do not include a full timber pest inspection — so you may have bought a home that is already exposed.
For a full inspection, contact Sydney’s Best Pest Control.
Why are termites such a big risk for Sydney homeowners?
Termites never sleep. A mature colony of 1–2 million subterranean termites can consume roughly 5 kg of timber every week. In a typical Sydney weatherboard or brick-veneer home, that means wall frames, floor joists, roof trusses and even window and door frames can be severely weakened in under 2 years.
NSW Fair Trading reports that termite damage costs Australian homeowners more than $1.5 billion every year. Critically, 98% of standard home and contents insurance policies specifically exclude termite damage — meaning every dollar of repair comes directly out of your pocket.
Hidden signs most new owners miss
- Mud tubes the width of a pencil running up brick piers or inside subfloor walls
- Hollow-sounding timber when tapped with a screwdriver handle
- Small piles of dry, sandy faecal pellets (drywood termites)
- Winged “alate” termites swarming near windows after rain in spring or early summer
- Doors or windows that suddenly jam for no obvious reason
We recently inspected a 1980s home in Baulkham Hills where the owners had lived for 14 months without seeing a single termite. When we opened the subfloor access panel, the main bearer under the kitchen was already 70% eaten through — repair quote was $28,000 plus a full barrier treatment.
What types of termites attack Sydney homes?
Not all termites are equal. Two groups threaten Sydney properties, and the right treatment depends entirely on which species you are dealing with. Misidentification leads to wasted money and continued damage.
Subterranean termites (Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes)
These cause roughly 90% of all serious termite damage in NSW. They live in large underground colonies and build protected mud tubes to travel up to 100 metres from their nest in search of timber. They enter homes through slab edges, expansion joints, drainage pipes and even cracks as thin as 1.5 mm.
Drywood termites (Cryptotermes, Incisitermes)
Less common but still found across Sydney — especially in older inner‑west and eastern suburbs homes. They live entirely inside the wood they eat, do not need soil contact, and can be transported in furniture, picture frames and second‑hand flooring. Their presence usually requires targeted localised treatment rather than a full soil barrier.
| Feature | Subterranean Termites | Drywood Termites |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Sydney damage | 90% | 8–10% |
| Colony size | 500,000 – 2,000,000+ | 1,000 – 10,000 |
| Needs soil contact | Yes — builds mud tubes | No — lives entirely in wood |
| Best treatment | Soil barrier or monitored baiting | Localised dust / foam / fumigation |
| Speed of damage | Fast — structural risk in 1–2 years | Slow — 5+ years for major harm |
What termite treatments work best for established homes?
Since you have already moved in, pre‑construction treatment is no longer an option. Four proven methods are used on existing Sydney homes. The right choice depends on construction type, access, budget, and whether live termites are already present.
1. Repellent‑free chemical soil barrier
Trenches are dug around the external perimeter, termiticide is poured into the soil at the label rate, and the soil is backfilled. Drilling and injection is done through concrete paths, driveways and slab edges. Creates a continuous treated zone that termites cannot detect — they tunnel into it and die. Lasts 8–12 years with a single application.
2. Monitored baiting systems
Plastic stations are installed into the ground every 3–4 metres around the home. They are checked quarterly. When termites are found, a growth‑regulator bait is inserted that workers carry back to the queen, eliminating the whole colony over 3–6 months. Requires ongoing annual monitoring to stay effective.
3. Borate wood treatments
Borate‑based products are sprayed or brushed onto exposed timber in the roof, subfloor and wall cavities during construction or renovation. Makes timber indigestible to termites. Best used as a “top‑up” protection alongside a soil barrier, not as a standalone solution for high‑risk Sydney homes.
4. Localised treatments (dust, foam, dry foam)
Used when an active nest or gallery is found inside a wall, roof void or furniture. Termite dust is transferred between workers via grooming, killing the local population within days. Always followed up with a full perimeter barrier to stop re‑invasion from outside.
| Treatment | Best For | Typical Sydney Cost | Longevity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical soil barrier | High‑risk homes, slab on ground | $3,500 – $6,500 | 8–12 years |
| Baiting system + annual service | Heritage homes, difficult access | $4,500 install + $650/year | Ongoing while serviced |
| Borate spray (timber only) | Renovations, new timber work | $800 – $1,500 | Life of timber if not painted |
| Localised dust / foam | Active nests found inside | $450 – $950 per spot | Kills current colony only |
The NSW Environment Protection Authority regulates all termiticides used in the state. Only products registered by the APVMA may be applied, and they must be used strictly according to label directions by a licensed technician.
When should I call a professional termite specialist?
DIY termite products from hardware stores almost always make the problem worse. Spraying visible termites with supermarket insecticide kills a few hundred workers but causes the colony to split into multiple smaller nests and spread further inside your walls — a behaviour called budding.
Call a licensed expert immediately if you notice any of these:
- Live termites, mud tubes or discarded wings anywhere inside or under the house
- Timber that sounds hollow, feels soft, or has a bubbled/papery surface
- Your pre‑purchase report noted “conducive conditions” such as poor subfloor ventilation, timber‑soil contact, or leaking taps
- You live within 500 metres of bushland, a creek or a park — prime termite habitat
- The home is more than 15 years old and has no record of previous treatment
Under the NSW Pest Control Licensing Regulation 2017, anyone performing termite work for reward must hold a current timber pest management licence issued by NSW Fair Trading. Always ask to see the card before allowing any treatment to begin.
If you have seen any of these signs in your new home, do not disturb them and do not spray anything. Call us now on 1800 819 189 — we dispatch licensed technicians across Greater Sydney within 48 hours.
What are the legal requirements for termite protection in NSW?
The National Construction Code (NCC), published by the Australian Building Codes Board, mandates termite management systems for all new homes and substantial renovations built since 1995. However, there is no law requiring an existing home to have active protection — the risk sits entirely with the owner.
If you are selling later, a lack of termite history must be disclosed on the Section 149 certificate in some NSW council areas. More importantly, any future building work such as an extension or new deck will require a compliant termite barrier to be installed before a waterproofing or occupation certificate can be issued.
Paperwork you should keep safe
- Original timber pest inspection report (AS 3660.2 compliant)
- Treatment advice notice and certificate of installation
- Product labels and SDS (safety data sheets)
- Warranty documents — most reputable Sydney firms offer 5–8 year written warranties on barrier work
- Annual inspection receipts — insurers and future buyers want to see a continuous history
“We bought in Sutherland Shire and skipped the separate timber pest report to save $400. Six months later our bathroom floor dropped 30 mm. Repairs plus barrier cost us $36,000. That $400 was the most expensive decision we ever made.”
— James & Melissa R., Menai, reviewed 14 March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Are termite inspections worth it for a newer house?
Yes. Even homes built in the last 10 years can develop termite problems if the original barrier was installed incorrectly, breached by later plumbing work, or simply expired. A $350–$550 inspection every 12 months is tiny insurance against $30,000+ repairs.
How long does a termite barrier last in Sydney soil?
Modern non‑repellent products installed to AS 3660.1 standards typically perform for 8–12 years. High‑rainfall areas like the Northern Beaches or Illawarra edge may see slightly shorter effective life. Annual inspections confirm the zone is still intact.
Can I just do one treatment and forget it?
No. Termite pressure in Sydney never stops. Even the best barrier needs a professional visual inspection every 12 months to check for new entry points, garden beds built against the house, leaking taps, and other conducive conditions that invite attack.
Is termite treatment safe around kids, dogs and chooks?
When applied by a licensed technician according to the APVMA label, modern termiticides have very low mammalian toxicity. Most products are applied 100–150 mm deep in the soil, completely out of reach. Your technician will advise on any short‑term re‑entry periods, usually 1–2 hours.
Who pays for termite work — buyer or seller?
In NSW, the default is buyer beware. Unless your contract specifically included a termite clearance certificate or a special condition, the cost of treatment and repairs falls to you once settlement is complete. This is why a separate AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection before exchange is always recommended.
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Protect Your New Sydney Home From Termites Today
Don’t let silent invaders eat into your largest investment. Book a full AS 4349.3 compliant inspection and get a fixed‑price quote for the right protection — before damage shows.