An access due diligence review helps a buyer or tenant understand barriers and likely accessibility work before committing to a property. It should be completed early enough for findings to influence negotiations, fitout feasibility, budget and program.
Because access requirements are project-specific, the correct answer depends on the building, proposed work, approval pathway and evidence available. This guide explains the practical questions to ask before making a decision.
Need advice on a live project? Request a fee proposal from ASN.
The key factors
- Access from boundaries, parking, drop-off and public approaches
- Step-free entrances, doors, circulation and vertical access
- Accessible sanitary facilities and amenities relevant to the proposed use
- Base-building and tenancy responsibilities under the proposed agreement
- Likely interfaces between existing barriers and planned fitout or change of use
A qualified access consultant can help connect these factors to the relevant NCC provisions, Premises Standards, Australian Standards and project documentation. The review scope should identify the criteria being applied and any important limitations.
Common mistakes
Inspecting only the tenancy interior, assuming the landlord will fund upgrades, overlooking approval implications of a change of use, relying on old plans, or seeking cost certainty from a limited visual inspection.
These mistakes are easier to correct in drawings and project planning than after approval, procurement or construction. Early review also gives the architect, building surveyor, owner and contractor a shared record of the issue.
A practical way forward
- Define the proposed use and critical customer or staff journeys
- Provide the lease information, fitout concept and any existing building reports
- Inspect before commercial terms become unconditional where possible
- Use findings alongside building, legal, cost and commercial advice
What useful advice should contain
A useful assessment should state the purpose of the review, the documents or areas assessed, the applicable criteria, material findings, assumptions, exclusions and recommended next actions. It should be written for the people who need to resolve the issue, rather than simply reproducing clauses.
Where a design changes after the assessment, the affected access findings should be reviewed again. One altered doorway, level, fixture or route can affect connected parts of the accessibility strategy.
Relevant ASN service
ASN’s primary service for this issue is Due Diligence Access Reports. Access Solutions National has provided disability access and inclusion advice since 2002. Our consultants are qualified and Accredited Members of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA).
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait until the design is complete?
No. Early advice usually provides more options and reduces the chance of redesign. The scope can be updated as documentation develops.
Does an access consultant replace the building surveyor?
No. The access consultant provides specialist advice. The building surveyor or relevant authority remains responsible for statutory approval decisions.
What should I send ASN?
Send the address, project description, current drawings or photographs, project stage, question to be answered and required date. ASN will confirm the appropriate service and scope.
Discuss your project
Request a fee proposal or call 1300 276 222 for practical disability access advice.