On May 12th, 2011 the Alberta Government introduced the Home Inspection Business Regulation, which comes into force on September 1, 2011. It will require all home inspection businesses and individual inspectors be licensed by the provincial government. To qualify for a license, inspectors must have successfully completed training from an educational institution approved by the provincial government and pass a test inspection, or hold a Certified Master Inspector or Registered Home Inspector designation. Home inspectors, organizations or industry associations will also have the ability to submit training programs or credentials for assessment by the government.
Alberta consumers, home inspectors and the real estate industry indicated widespread support for regulation during public consultation by the government.
The regulation also provides additional protection for homebuyers:
- requiring home inspectiom businesses carry errors and omission insurance in case an inspector makes a mistake or is negligent;
- requiring home inspection businesses post a security to cover consumer losses if the regulation is not followed;
- establishing what parts of a home and property must be included in a home inspection; and
- prohibiting contract clauses that limit the liability of the business and inspectors.
Service Alberta can investigate complaints that a home inspector has violated the regulation. Enforcement actions include suspension or cancellation of the license, and prosecution under the Fair Trading Act, with a maximum fine of $100,000 and up to two years in jail.
It is September 1, 2011 and all home inspectors must be licensed in order to operate a home inspection business.
JBR Inspections Ltd is licensed and registered with the Government of Alberta to operate a Home Inspection Business! (License # 332452).
I am proud to be a part of this industry and glad to see these regulations come into effect. These regulations highlight the importance of a home inspection and sets a standard of education that all inspectors must achieve prior to operating as a home inspector.