Home Inspectors Licenced
HOME INSPECTORS
TO BE LICENCED Home inspectors will soon have to be licensed, making BC the first province in the country to enact the requirement designed to protect consumers. Announced by the province last week, all home inspectors will have to clear qualifications and licensing by March 31 of this year. John Van Dongen, minister responsible for consumers, said the |
legislation is key to protecting home buyers. “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,” van Dongen said. “…consumers need to have confidence that the person who is doing the inspection has the qualifications to make a professional assessment.” To this point, home inspector training has been voluntary, leaving home buyers unaware of the person’s qualifications. After consultation with consumers and the industry, Victoria opted for licensing under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority. Ø Assessing the qualifications of, and requiring mandatory licenses for, home inspections Ø Receiving and responding to complaints from consumers Ø Monitoring compliance through inspections and enforcement, with penalties that can range as high as $5,000 The new requirements will help protect the public interest by preventing somebody with no experience in the industry just “Buying a flashlight and business cards” and going out providing inferior home inspection services, the CCIPI said in a release. It will also prevent those with specialized training in only one particular building component or system offering services as a home inspector. |