Earlier this week, OREA made a submission in response to, “A Closer Look: Qualifying Ontario’s Home Inspectors,” an independent findings report that recommends regulation of the home inspection industry.
In October 2012, Minister of Consumer Services, the Honourable Tracy MacCharles, committed to enhancing consumer protection by working with home inspection associations, consumer advocates, and real estate industry representatives on determining mandatory qualifications for home inspectors. In August 2013, the Minister asked a volunteer panel of experts to review home inspector qualifications in Ontario. OREA was represented on the panel by REALTOR® Johnmark Roberts. The panel developed a report with 35 recommends for the home inspection industry.
Of particular importance, the report recommends creating a delegated administrative authority (DAA), to oversee licensing and education for home inspectors. Other recommendations include requiring home inspectors to adhere to a code of ethics, meet minimum qualifications to practice and establishing a complaint handling and dispute resolution process.
As home inspections have become commonplace in many residential real estate transactions, Ontario REALTORS® want to ensure prospective home buyers are guided by reliable, informative and professional advice when choosing to purchase a home. For this reason, OREA welcomes the government’s latest consumer protection initiative.
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