How to check your drainage for the Guide to Standards and Tolerances
Drainage failure is a common cause of disputes. Knowing the rules helps you avoid them.
Whittlesea 3757 · 14 April 2026
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In short: The Guide to Standards and Tolerances sets the limit for drainage performance. Exceeding it can lead to a VCAT claim.
What the Guide says
The Guide requires that surface water not pool. It must flow away from the house quickly and freely.
Recorded inspection findings
A surface water blockage in a Whittlesea yard and a driveway grading that causes pooling near a home.
Crucial for buyers
Water that sits against a floor or wall can rot timber. It also promotes mould and affects the structural integrity of the slab.
How inspections are not conducted
A slight puddle is not always a failure. The Guide defines an acceptable level of ponding. The inspection determines if it is within that range.
Inspection advice
Check the fall of the land and the condition of the guttering. Correcting the grade stops water from reaching the building.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Whittlesea. Licensed building practitioners.
