Thursday, February 12, 2009 Mandatory licensing of home inspectors On March 31, 2009, BC will become the first Canadian province requiring home inspectors to be licensed. For the past decade, together with BC Real Estate Association, your Board has advocated that home inspectors meet licensing and uniform education standards.
Members were concerned that training for inspectors was voluntary and anyone could call themselves a home inspector. This created problems for homebuyers who hired “professional” home inspectors who ultimately weren’t qualified. When problems were discovered that an inspector should have identified, the homebuyer had no recourse. Under the new standards, the province’s 300 to 400 home inspectors will be required to meet the qualifications of one of the following organizations:
Licensing will be under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. Home inspectors must complete examinations and field experience, undergo a criminal records check and pay a $100 licensing fee.
The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) will be the regulatory body, overseeing licensing and complaints, and will monitor compliance through inspections and enforcement. Maximum penalties for non compliance will be $5,000. Licensing information and application forms will be posted on the BPCPA website at www.bpcpa.ca by February 27, 2009. Until March 31, 2009, home inspectors who haven’t met the requirements of a BPCPA-recognized professional association or authority can apply to the BPCPA to have their experience, knowledge and ability assessed and may be issued a licence. “Grandfathered” inspectors must meet the requirements of one of the three recognized groups by March 31, 2011. CommentsNo comments Post Your Comment: |
