Can an Ottawa inspector bill more than their fee estimate?

Under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if your inspection agreement includes an estimate, the inspector cannot charge you more than 10 per cent above that figure. That rule is section 10 of the Act.

What this means in practice depends on how the agreement is worded. How a particular quote is classified is a question for a lawyer. Either way, the federal Office of Consumer Affairs advises getting a written contract that sets out the items to be inspected, the report deadline, and the total cost before any work begins.

A few things are worth knowing about the contract itself. An agreement booked online may be an internet agreement under the Act, and one signed in person at the property may be a direct agreement, each carrying its own disclosure and cancellation rules. Whether your particular booking falls into either category is a question for a lawyer, not something to assume. On liability-limitation clauses, we found no rule on whether they are enforceable in Ontario; that too is a question for a lawyer.

On what inspectors charge in the Ottawa area, ontario.ca puts the range at $350 to $600, with fees that may go higher depending on the size and condition of the home. Published Ottawa-area inspector pricing suggests roughly $450 to $640 for a detached or semi-detached home up to about 2,000 square feet, and around $350 to $470 plus HST for a condo apartment. Add-on services are priced separately, and for those the Office of Consumer Affairs' advice to get the total cost in writing before work starts is especially useful.

If you want to be matched with local home inspectors, the form on this page sends your request to inspectors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory.

Before you confirm a booking, ask the inspector to put the full price, including any add-ons you have discussed, in writing so you know exactly what the 10 per cent cap would apply to.