In NSW for CDC approvals ( and often construction certificates) we are required to get a dilapidation report done of the council assets and if you are building close to a neighbouring building that as well ( can't remember how close exactly but it's close). But for most builds neighbouring properties are optional.
I am pretty sure that the report can be undertaken by anyone for council and generally just needs to be a series of photos of the pavement and roads that are labelled.
For a number of years we have been going the extra step and hiring an engineer to do all neighbouring properties, inside and out including driveways, fences etc. This costs around $1800 or so.
This week that has paid off.
We completed a project last year, and the neighbour, omg let's just say the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor!
She has a home built in the 1920's and her driveway probably built around the same time was severely damaged and cracked before we started building. We didn't even go near her place during construction. Anyway she has been hitting us up for a new driveway for several months
( see attached photo from the Dilap report).
Yesterday we were served with legal papers, and if it wasn't for the independent report we could be in trouble.
So point being, before you start building, invest in an engineer to inspect your neighbours properties so you can't be blamed for any pre existing damage.
Cheers
Simeon