B.C. Stronger home inspector licensing

Local Inspection Issues Canadian Home Inspectors
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https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016MNGD0008-000396?utm_source=Licensees&utm_campaign=0b1b5a4f78-Home_inspector_licensing_regulation_anno3_15_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f9c36d7f54-0b1b5a4f78-115675657

](http://gov.bc.ca/)

**[BC Gov News](https://news.gov.bc.ca/)**

 
British Columbia News

Stronger home inspector licensing rules will protect consumers

https://news.gov.bc.ca/10503

Victoria

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 11:30 AM
New requirements for home inspectors will give consumers increased confidence when they purchase a home.
The rules take effect on Sept. 1, 2016, and will enhance home inspector licensing qualifications, strengthen home inspection reports, contracts and insurance requirements, and improve enforcement, by requiring the following:

  • Home inspection contracts must describe in advance what will be covered in an inspection.
  • Contractual terms that limit home inspectors’ liability will be prohibited.
  • New business record-keeping requirements will be put in place for home inspectors.
  • Home inspectors will be required to have valid professional and general liability insurance.

In 2013, the provincial government invited public input on an improved regulatory model for home inspectors. The resulting changes are based on public input, as well as research and consultation with home inspector associations and home inspectors, Consumer Protection BC and other stakeholders.
The Province will also undertake a comprehensive review of the qualifications required to perform home inspections and develop new, more rigorous training and examination requirements for those wishing to become home inspectors. This review will help develop a single occupational standard for all B.C. home inspectors. Results are expected to be in place in 2017.
Quotes:
Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing ─
“We asked the public for input in developing new requirements for home inspectors in British Columbia. Taking that feedback into account, we have developed a new approach that will make home inspectors more accountable and ensure consumers know what to expect from a home inspector.”
Mike Morris, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General ─
“The purchase of a family home is one of the most important investments British Columbians make. This decision is informed by a home inspection. It not only informs potential buyers about a home, but it also alerts them to what may cost them financially down the road – like needed repairs, mould or other hazards. The people of B.C. can rest assured that no matter where in this province they choose to buy, the home inspection process will be fair and transparent.”
Tayt Winnitoy, executive vice-president, Consumer Protection BC ─
“Today’s announcement by government ensures that British Columbia remains a leader in terms of licensing and regulating the home inspection industry. Consistent disclosures in home inspection contracts and inspection reports will increase protections for homebuyers and the changes provide clarity for the industry when it comes to licence qualifications. We will deliver on our expanded responsibilities using the expertise we have developed since first taking on responsibility for this sector in 2009. In doing so, we are committed to a smooth implementation for all of our stakeholders.”
Tony Gioventu, executive director, Condominium Home Owners’ Association of B.C. ─
“Among other things, these changes to the home inspector licensing regulation will require important consumer information be written into the contract so that potential home buyers can be more confident, informed and protected when they make an investment in a home. ”
Helene Barton, executive director, Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors BC ─
“This is excellent news for the B.C. consumer and the home inspection industry. With these enhanced B.C. regulations, CAHPI(BC) will continue to provide education and support services essential to the practice of professional home inspections, which will contribute to improved consumer protection.”
John Leech, CEO, Applied Science Technologists And Technicians of BC ─
“ASTTBC welcomes the regulations being implemented for home inspector licensing. We applaud this step forward in the process and look forward to continuing to work with the government to bring about positive changes to the home inspection industry in B.C."
Quick Facts:

  • In 2009, British Columbia became the first jurisdiction in Canada to require licensing of home inspectors.
  • British Columbia and Alberta are the only two provinces that regulate home inspectors in Canada. Ontario is considering doing so.
  • There are approximately 483 licensed home inspectors in B.C.

Learn More:
Looking for information about home inspections? http://www.homeinspectionrightsbc.ca
Expand Story Contract Story

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Thanks for posting. Will be interesting to see how it end out.

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I look forward to more information . I see nothing was said about CSA .
Strange how they get upset with

483…four hundred and eighty three…licensed inspectors. WOW! Unbelievable!!!

These “licensed” inspectors must be complete f$ck ups to require licensing for so few and then they have to go and tighten up the licensing rules & regs for these clowns…or it’s all political mumbo-jumbo and of little value to anyone

Good to know the thousands of roofers and reno contractors don’t need licensing!

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Most of the demands were already in place since 2009. We need to be insured, pass a criminal record check, have contracts etc. Most continuing education will have to be done through an association, so not having to join any doesn’t really make sense. What I can’t wait to see is what courses will be approved. I’m guessing Carson Dunlop will take over that part. Hopefully all Nachi courses will be approved.

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This shows that there is a definite disjunct with respect to various professions going on in Canada.

While Canada’s highest courts have set limits on awards and the country’s liability laws make establishing professional negligence more difficult for Medical practitioners (currently $100,000 for non-pecuniary, and $300,000 for pecuniary negligence) the B.C. government ensures home inspectors are left with no right to limit their liability.

I don’t know about other readers, but I think being limited to $100,000 if a Doctor causes serious injury through malpractice, yet being allowed to sue for $1,000,000 (which can be the replacement of an entire home) for a smaller error is bloody ridiculous.

When you add to that the fact that the Provincial Governments refund a large portion of the Medical Professions E&O insurance, one wonders why these disparities keep occurring.

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Roy, this has got to be one of the funniest posts you have made, and you are so bang on the nose with your perception on this one. B.C. = Bloody Cockup

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I might be wrong but I do not think Commercial inspectors require any license (nor follow any SOP) to inspect a commercial building that typically costs far more than a home.

.
I wonder about insurance ???

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You are right Roy, Commercial inspection do not require a license. There are a couple of SoP’s out there though. The InterNACHI Commercial SoP is the most extensive.

Insurance…commercial clients tend to be more litigious, proceed at risk without it. Plus WSIB is mandatory in Ontario.

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http://bc.ctvnews.ca/new-rules-for-home-inspectors-coming-to-b-c-1.2826671

New rules for home inspectors coming to B.C.

10 different home inspectors could give you 10 different opinions

Ross McLaughlin and Lisa Green, CTV Vancouver
Published Wednesday, March 23, 2016 6:00AM PDT
New regulations to standardize home inspections in B.C. have just been announced, but prospective homeowners still need to do research and get references before hiring a home inspector.
Currently, there are four different professional organizations for B.C’s nearly 500 home inspectors, but that will change when the rules are standardized in September.
Home inspector Ted Gilmour says right now, you’d likely get 10 different inspection reports from 10 different inspectors.
Related Stories
Woman hires lawyer to try to get house deposit back
A scary prospect for home buyers like 82-year-old Olive Petrou, who put $240,000 down on a $5-million house - subject to a home inspection.
The first inspection found issues, but didn’t report some of the problems that a second inspector, Ted Gilmour, later found.
However, his inspection came too late: Petrou had already removed the ‘subject to a home inspection’ after the seller agreed to do repairs and Gilmour had discovered other issues while inspecting those repairs.
Both home inspectors were licensed and both met current regulations. However, according to BC Consumer Protection, a home inspection is just an opinion.
New rules will require home inspectors to describe in advance what will be covered in an inspection. They’ll no longer have limited liability for their inspections and they’ll be required to have valid professional and general liability insurance. There will also be standardized training and examination requirements.
“The reason it’s being done this way is that we couldn’t actually get agreement within the industry to come together as an industry because there were a number of professional organizations representing them so we finally said, ‘alright fine, we will create this licensing regime with qualifications and you’ll all meet it,’” said Minister of Housing Rich Coleman.
It’s too late for Petou, who no longer wants to buy the home. She and her daughter, Susan Pugh, were going to live in the house together but are now fighting to get their $240,000 back.
Pugh says their experience is a wake-up call to anyone who is making a home purchase in Vancouver’s overheated real estate market. Often buyers are going in without any conditions attached to the offer.
“And we are even more gun shy of purchasing any property. We are so tired and fed up with the whole thing,” Pugh told CTV News.
If you need a home inspector, ask a lot of questions about their background, check their current licensing and it’s recommended you get a referral from someone who’d used them before.

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I guess it all depends on who is paying for the services of professionals. Requiring medicos to carry more insurance would affect the cost of medical services, paid by provincial health care with some assistance from the feds. AFAICS HI licensing is all about serving the insurance industry, not the consumer.

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Letters to the editor .

(edited)5 days ago
Roy Cooke

Licensing will not correct this…you’ll still have 10 different opinions, just as you would if you went to multiple Doctors, Appraisers, Engineers, Roofers and Building Contractors. That’s why it’s called an opinion. I don’t believe for a minute you can simply license people and get identical reports. When something is missed / misinterpreted…its missed/ misinterpreted!

1 reply

(edited)3 days ago
Ted Gilmour Government licensing inspectors will never change in the ultimate outcome when real estate agents control home inspectors; by their inspector referral practices. Salespeople like to surround themselves with team players. The new $550 government Licensing fee failed to protect the public. The only protection would be to create a firewall between inspectors and sales interests.

https://graph.facebook.com/v2.3/818420798248927/picture?type=square

(edited)5 days ago
taylor

Unfortunately the market situation will allow unscrupulous sellers to offload problem properties. As for Home Inspectors, they are absolutely useless. Better off hiring an actual structural engineer or certified electrician or mold specialist.

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Licensing has a minute impact on true “consumer protection”. Consumers need to be aware of the “limitations” and a realistic scope of work normally conducted by a home inspection. Even with 4 recognized associations in BC we have 4 “standards of practice”, but what many fail to realize there’s little difference between them. So as raised in earlier comments it can boil down to the difference between soft reporting and those that realistically report the significant deficiencies/defects.

This whole attempt to fix what is not broken such as the CSA Home Inspection “standard” will still not change the mindset of “consumer expectations”. Far too many consumers believe that the home inspector should be responsible for anything that goes wrong in a house. The current association standards already defines 99% of what was regurgitated by the CSA Standard. Now couple that with the handful of home inspectors that claim they exceed the SOP, and this only raises the level of risk from years of a benchmarked norm.