Question 1

Common areas in an Ottawa condo: does the inspection cover them?

Accepted Answer

Ontario.ca lists "common areas in a condominium" among the elements an inspector will typically examine, so common areas are within scope. What the inspector can actually see and record depends entirely on access. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs puts it plainly: "a home inspection report will be limited to describing conditions in the areas of the home that the inspector can see or has access to." It advises making sure all areas are accessible before the inspection begins.

Question 2

What can an inspector see in a Sandy Hill condo building?

Accepted Answer

What the inspector can see in a condo comes down to access. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs says a home inspection report "will be limited to describing conditions in the areas of the home that the inspector can see or has access to", and advises making sure the seller or agent makes all areas accessible for inspection.

Question 3

Worth inspecting a Centretown condo apartment before buying?

Accepted Answer

A home inspection of a condo apartment is worth considering, and published Ottawa-area inspector pricing for a condo apartment runs roughly $350 to $470 plus HST. What you get for that fee is a visual examination of the unit itself, not the building as a whole.

Question 4

Does Tarion cover a condo conversion unit in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Partly. Tarion says that for condo conversions, "pre-existing elements are not covered by the one-year warranty." Ontario.ca describes a residential condominium conversion project as existing non-residential buildings that are converted to condominiums, and says pre-existing elements of those projects are not covered by some of the 1-year warranties. It also notes that coverage may vary by the type of home, and that homes built on existing footings or foundations may not be covered.

Condo Inspections

Common areas in an Ottawa condo: does the inspection cover them?

What can an inspector see in a Sandy Hill condo building?

Worth inspecting a Centretown condo apartment before buying?

Does Tarion cover a condo conversion unit in Ottawa?