Home Inspectors to be licensed
12/03/09 20:57 Filed in: Home Inspection news
- Home Inspectors must be licensed in B.C. by March 31 , 2009
LICENSING WILL STRENGTHEN QUALITY OF HOME INSPECTIONS
VANCOUVER – B.C. will become the first province in Canada to license home inspectors to better protect buyers and ensure qualified inspections, Solicitor General and Minister responsible for consumers, John van Dongen announced today.
“A home is the single biggest investment most British Columbians make but financial risk can be the result of an incorrect or misleading report from an unqualified inspector,” said van Dongen. “Whether they’re buying their first condo or starter home, dream or retirement home, consumers need to have confidence that the person who is doing the inspection has the qualifications to make a professional assessment.”
To date, home inspector training has been voluntary. This leaves the home buyer in a situation where they do not know if their home inspector is qualified to do the job they were hired to do. Following consultations with consumers and the industry, the Province opted for licensing under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) and developed a model that will minimize paperwork and costs to help maximize compliance.
The regulations incorporate input from all three home inspector organizations in B.C. An estimated 300 to 400 home inspectors currently operate in the province, and most are members of at least one professional association. Effective March 31, the BPCPA will help protect the buyer’s interests, by:
* Assessing the qualifications of, and requiring mandatory licences for, home inspectors.
* Receiving and responding to complaints from consumers.
* Monitoring compliance through inspections and enforcement, with penalties that can range as high as $5,000.
Licensing information and application forms will be posted on the BPCPA website on Feb. 27, after which the authority will begin accepting applications. The application forms will set out what is required for a license, such as insurance and affiliation with professional organizations.
To become licensed, home inspectors will need to meet the qualifications of either the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors – BC branch; the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia; or the National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors. As well, like other groups regulated by the BPCPA who work with consumers, home inspectors will require a criminal record check.
“While most inspectors are dedicated professionals, under the current system, they may have little or no qualification, which can create problems for legitimate real estate transactions,” said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “Requiring inspectors to be licensed provides sellers and buyers with confidence that all inspections will be carried out by a qualified professional.”
VANCOUVER – B.C. will become the first province in Canada to license home inspectors to better protect buyers and ensure qualified inspections, Solicitor General and Minister responsible for consumers, John van Dongen announced today.
“A home is the single biggest investment most British Columbians make but financial risk can be the result of an incorrect or misleading report from an unqualified inspector,” said van Dongen. “Whether they’re buying their first condo or starter home, dream or retirement home, consumers need to have confidence that the person who is doing the inspection has the qualifications to make a professional assessment.”
To date, home inspector training has been voluntary. This leaves the home buyer in a situation where they do not know if their home inspector is qualified to do the job they were hired to do. Following consultations with consumers and the industry, the Province opted for licensing under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) and developed a model that will minimize paperwork and costs to help maximize compliance.
The regulations incorporate input from all three home inspector organizations in B.C. An estimated 300 to 400 home inspectors currently operate in the province, and most are members of at least one professional association. Effective March 31, the BPCPA will help protect the buyer’s interests, by:
* Assessing the qualifications of, and requiring mandatory licences for, home inspectors.
* Receiving and responding to complaints from consumers.
* Monitoring compliance through inspections and enforcement, with penalties that can range as high as $5,000.
Licensing information and application forms will be posted on the BPCPA website on Feb. 27, after which the authority will begin accepting applications. The application forms will set out what is required for a license, such as insurance and affiliation with professional organizations.
To become licensed, home inspectors will need to meet the qualifications of either the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors – BC branch; the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia; or the National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors. As well, like other groups regulated by the BPCPA who work with consumers, home inspectors will require a criminal record check.
“While most inspectors are dedicated professionals, under the current system, they may have little or no qualification, which can create problems for legitimate real estate transactions,” said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “Requiring inspectors to be licensed provides sellers and buyers with confidence that all inspections will be carried out by a qualified professional.”