Home inspectors will now be regulated and licensed under new rules set to come into force this fall.
Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk on Thursday announced the regulations that will require home inspectors to carry insurance, inspect specific areas of a home and meet certain educational standards.
“We want to make sure that when consumers make the biggest purchase of their life, they know that they can be confident that the home inspector they are hiring will protect them as well,” said Klimchuk.
Inspectors will now be required to pass a test inspection after completing a course from SAIT or carry a designation from one of several professional associations.
Klimchuk said the province is open to other credentials or educational institutions, but is beginning with these programs.
“This move is good for consumers while still allowing the industry to operate in a competitive marketplace,” said Klimchuk.
Home inspectors will have to carry insurance for errors or omissions and will have to cover certain areas of a house, including the roof, plumbing, structure and possible electrical problems.
Klimchuk said the industry has not been a major source of complaints for the province, but it’s an important area that requires consumer confidence.
“We get about 10 to 12 complaints every year,” she said. “The main concern was that there were people operating out there as home inspectors that were not [qualified] and then issues would come up.”
Ron Henderson of St. Albert-based Executive Home Inspections welcomes the new changes and already carries the insurance the province will be looking for.
“I have carried that since the day I started. I always thought that was a good idea,” he said.
Henderson agrees there are few problems in the industry, but the rare stories make it look like a bigger problem. The changes would help consumers feel confident.
“There is always room for improvement in any business and I think the licensing will give the consumers that extra layer of comfort.”
The organization he belongs to, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, requires ongoing education for inspectors, which he said is important.
“You get people who are educated and who continue to improve their education, I think that is a must to be in a business of any kind.”
The new regulations take effect Sept. 1. Inspectors who do not currently meet the requirement will be able to apply for a two-year conditional license.
