Question 1

What would the Home Inspection Act require if Ontario brought it in?

Accepted Answer

Ontario passed the Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today. The Act received Royal Assent on April 13, 2017; e-Laws still carries the note that it "comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor," and no proclamation has been made.

Question 2

What does the RHI title mean on an Ottawa inspector's card?

Accepted Answer

RHI stands for Registered Home Inspector, a designation granted by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI), a not-for-profit membership association incorporated under a private Act in 1994. It is a voluntary membership title, not a licence to practise home inspection in Ontario. Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today.

Question 3

What happened to Ontario's Home Inspection Act from 2017?

Accepted Answer

It is still not in force. The Home Inspection Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 5, Sched. 1, received Royal Assent on April 13, 2017. e-Laws carries this note on it: "THIS ACT IS NOT YET IN FORCE. It comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor." Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today.

Question 4

Do Ontario home inspectors need errors and omissions insurance?

Accepted Answer

No law in Ontario requires home inspectors to carry errors and omissions insurance, or any other insurance. Ontario.ca states that inspectors are currently not required by law to have insurance coverage, though many do have policies that can include general liability or errors and omissions coverage. So whether a particular inspector carries it, and what kind, is something to ask directly and get in writing before the inspection begins.

Question 5

Does RECO oversee the home inspector my Ottawa agent recommended?

Accepted Answer

No. RECO regulates real estate agents and brokerages, and it says plainly: "RECO does not regulate home inspectors." An inspector your agent mentions works outside RECO's oversight. Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today. Ontario.ca says that at this time Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors.

Question 6

How can I tell if an Ottawa inspector is qualified without a licence?

Accepted Answer

Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today. Ontario.ca says that at this time Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors, so qualifications are something you check by asking. Ontario.ca suggests these questions before you book: - May I see a copy of the inspection report you use? - Do you have experience inspecting the type of home that I'm considering? - Do you have insurance?

Licensing & Insurance