A beetle inspection is mainly about the wood borers that do structural damage in the Western Cape. The one that matters most is the European house borer (Hylotrupes bajulus), a notifiable pest in the Western Cape that attacks softwood roof timbers like pine. We also look for the common furniture beetle and powder post beetle, which damage floors, skirtings, built-in cupboards and older furniture-grade timber. Typical jobs are house sales, sectional title units where the roof space is accessible, older homes in suburbs with original roof timbers, and pre-purchase checks for buyers who want to know before they sign.
Which compliance certificate comes from a pest controller?
Only one: the beetle certificate. Selling a house in Cape Town can involve several compliance certificates, and sellers often hear "book the compliance certificates" from an agent without being told which ones. Depending on the property and the sale agreement, the conveyancer may ask for an electrical certificate of compliance, a gas certificate where there is a fixed gas installation, an electric fence certificate if the property has one, a plumbing certificate for the City of Cape Town, and the beetle certificate.
Electricians, gas installers and plumbers handle the others. We inspect timber for wood-destroying beetles and issue the beetle Certificate of Compliance. If you are not sure which ones your sale needs, your conveyancer has the final list.
Beetle certificates: what each person in the sale should know
Sellers
Your job is mainly access. If you have already moved out, make sure someone can open the house, the garage and any outbuildings on the day. Tell us when you book if there is more than one roof space, such as a granny flat, a garage with its own roof, a lapa or a loft conversion, because all of those count as timber we need to see.
Buyers
Read the certificate rather than just ticking it off. Check that the address and erf or unit number match, look at which areas were recorded as inaccessible, and ask whether any treatment was done before it was issued. If a section of roof could not be reached, ask about it before the transfer goes further. Remember that the certificate describes the accessible timber on the day of the inspection, nothing more. Keep it with your house papers afterwards, because it gives a useful starting point the next time anyone looks in that roof.
Estate agents and conveyancers
The most useful first message gives us the transfer date, the seller's contact details and whether the property is sectional title. In a block of flats the roof space often belongs to the body corporate, so getting in may need the managing agent's help.
Older roofs and newer builds across Cape Town
The age and style of a house tells us a fair amount before we even climb in.
- Victorian and Edwardian homes in Woodstock, Observatory, Mowbray and parts of the Southern Suburbs often have original timbers, patched repairs and decades of DIY in the roof. These inspections take longer and the notes run longer too. Our Woodstock wood borer page covers that area.
- Thatched homes in Constantia, Noordhoek and the Helderberg have poles, laths and rafters to inspect. The thatch itself is a separate matter covered under thatch treatment.
- Newer homes and estates in the Northern Suburbs and up the West Coast generally have more recent roof timber, but later additions such as carports, lapas and converted garages may use timber nobody kept records for.
- Flats and townhouses often have no accessible roof at all, or a single shared hatch. The certificate then reflects the timber that could actually be reached, such as floors, skirtings and built-in cupboards.
What to have ready when you book
- The full address with erf or unit number, exactly as it appears in the sale documents.
- The transfer or lodgement date your conveyancer is working towards.
- Who will give access, and whether there are dogs, alarms or gate codes to know about.
- The number of separate roofed buildings on the property.
- Any paperwork from earlier timber treatment or roof work, even if it is old.
If you have spotted holes or dust that worry you, send a photo on WhatsApp before the visit. It helps us plan, and you get an early idea of whether there is something to deal with. Full details of the inspection are on our beetle Certificate of Compliance page, or phone 021 012 5825 to book.
Quick answers
What is the European house borer?
It is a wood-boring beetle that attacks softwood roof timbers, and it is a notifiable pest in the Western Cape. Finding it means the infested timber must be properly dealt with.
How long does the inspection take?
Most homes are inspected in a single visit. Our average turnaround for bookings is about 48 hours, which helps when a transfer deadline is close.
Does the certificate cover the whole house?
It covers the timbers that were accessible at the time of inspection. Areas that could not be reached are noted so everyone knows what was checked.