BC Home Inspections: The Skinny

Consumers seeking the services of a home inspector are reminded to ask before signing a home inspection contract to see the Consumer Protection BC wallet-sized licence issued to home inspectors.

Effective March 31, 2009, British Columbia became the first province in Canada, through the Home Inspector Licensing Regulation, requiring the licensing of all those individuals who assess the condition of a residential dwelling or property to have a licence to practice in BC. This includes warranty insurance provider company inspectors.

Home Inspectors that meet the requirements of Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia, the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (BC), or the National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors, may qualify for a licence.  ASTTBC certifies house & property inspectors who, once registered, become members of the BC Institute of Property Inspectors (BCIPI).

The regulation requires all home inspectors to be a member of one of these recognized associations. If the home inspector you want to use is not a member of one of the above associations, you should contact Consumer Protection BC’s Inquiry Department.

Ensure the home inspector is licensed in BC, here: Home Inspectors Search.

Consumer Protection BC (formerly known as BPCPA) is now responsible for the licensing of home inspectors. Working in partnership with home inspector associations, Consumer Protection BC role is to ensure that a home buyer’s interests are protected and that recognized accrediting bodies are providing a code of ethics for their members and a complaint resolution process for consumers.

In order to obtain a licence, Consumer Protection BC also requires all home inspectors to carry errors omission insurance in addition to general liability insurance.

Making a Complaint:

If you have a complaint about the quality of service of a home inspector with regards to the following:

Certification standards; Training; Conduct; Qualifications; or, Code of ethics,

contact the applicable home inspectors association:

Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)
Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI)
National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors

Complaints about any of the following issues require you to contact Consumer Protection BC’s Licensing Department.

Failure to display a licence;
Failure to produce a licence on request;
Operating in a name different than the licensed name;
Appear to be operating at different location other than the licensed location;
Conflict of interest that has resulted in material gain for the home inspector;
Disclosure of report content; or,
Operating without a licence.