There are currently no provincial licensing requirements to become a Home Inspector in Ontario.

Hard to believe isn’t it?  

But that’s the stark truth about the Home Inspection industry in Ontario. 

The dirty little secret is that literally anybody with a flashlight and a ladder can put out a shingle and call themselves a Home Inspector.

Sure, they are still expected to follow other Ontario laws related to contracts and fair practices.  But if your Home Inspector really does a number on you with your new home purchase what recourse do you really have if they are not required to have liability and errors & omissions insurance?  Or if there isn’t a complaints & disciplinary mechanism in place where clients can report a negligent home inspector?

The answer is slim and none.   And slim just left town.

To be fair, there is the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. It was created in 1994. They do regulate it’s approximate 500 members as best they can without the support of any provincial legislation.  Their intentions are admirable.  The problem is their membership is completely voluntary.   It should be noted that there are over 1500 home inspectors throughout the province.

Do the math.  I did.  That means a homebuyer using the services of a Home Inspector are twice as likely to encounter one that is unlicensed than one that is licensed.  And I didn’t even forget to carry the one.  Trust me I proof checked the math.

Hopefully, this may be about to change.   Maybe.

In April 2017 the Ontario government did pass legislation to regulate the home inspection industry and establish qualifications for home inspectors.

Once The Home Inspection Act 2017 is in effect, individuals cannot conduct home inspections without a registered license and liability insurance. Requirements will include education, training and adherence to a code of ethics. Formal contracts with the buyer or seller will also be required prior to conducting a home inspection. And once the inspection is concluded, a report must also be provided.

The Act also provides for a complaints and disciplinary mechanism so that clients can report a negligent licensee

Sounds good doesn’t it?  Problem solved right?

NOT!

The Act has passed several readings in the Ontario parliament and has even received Royal Assent.   However, the government has dragged its feet when it comes to the actual drafting of the implementation regulations.

That’s a fancy way of saying they haven’t yet crossed all their t’s and dotted all their i’s.

It is literally going at the speed of government.  I am writing this to you in November 2022.  If they were to go any slower it would be going in reverse. 

So as of today, in Ontario it’s still the wild west for homebuyers when searching for a Home Inspector to safeguard the biggest purchase they are likely to ever make in their lifetime. 

Yikes!

P.S. This is the part where I am supposed to implore you to utilize the services of a reputable Realtor to help you navigate through these real estate land mines.  I will be doing another article in due time about how to find a good, reputable home inspector in an unregulated industry and what to look for when finally choosing one you can trust.  Until then, feel free to call or message me for more information and to point you in the right direction.