Do Apartments and Units Get Termites?

Yes, apartments and units can get termites, not just houses. Ground-floor and podium-level units carry higher risk due to closeness to soil and garden beds, and timber fitouts inside a unit can still be affected. Strata generally handles the building structure, but your own unit is still worth inspecting.

Why ground-floor and podium units carry more risk

Termites come up from the soil, so the closer a unit sits to the ground, the higher the risk. A ground-floor apartment, or a podium unit built over garden beds or a landscaped courtyard, is right where a colony would be. Upper floors aren’t off the hook, especially in older buildings with shared subfloors or ageing timber, but the risk drops the higher you go.

Timber fitouts inside the unit itself

Here’s the part people miss. Even when the building structure is strata’s problem, the fitout inside your unit, the flooring, skirting, built-in joinery, is generally your own. Termites don’t care about the line between structural timber and your kitchen cabinets. Activity that starts in a shared wall or subfloor can work its way into your flooring or joinery. That’s the reason to have your own unit looked at, separate from whatever strata is doing at building level.

Where strata responsibility generally sits

In a strata building, the structure and common property are generally strata’s to maintain, and that can take in termite management for shared elements. Where strata’s responsibility ends and yours begins comes down to the strata plan and by-laws, so it’s worth reading your scheme’s documents or asking the strata manager directly. There’s more on how strata buildings handle termites in that guide.

Common questions

Are ground-floor apartments more at risk of termites than upper floors?
Generally yes, because they’re closest to the soil and garden beds termites travel from. Upper floors aren’t immune, especially in older buildings, but the risk is lower the higher up you are.

Is termite treatment in an apartment building strata’s responsibility?
Structure and common property are generally strata’s, but it depends on the strata plan and by-laws. The fitout inside your own unit is generally yours.

Should I still get my apartment inspected if strata handles the building?
Yes. Strata covering the structure doesn’t mean your own unit and its timber are covered, so a separate inspection is still worth having.

Own or manage a unit and not sure where the termite risk sits? Book an inspection and get a clear read on your own space.