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

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?
• May I see accreditation that shows what kind of training and experience you have?
• Can you provide references?

On titles: RHI is a designation the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors, a not-for-profit association, grants to qualified members. It is a voluntary membership title, not a licence. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs suggests asking whether the inspector will apply CSA A770, a voluntary national standard for home inspections published in 2016. Neither is required by law, but both give you something concrete to ask about and compare.

On insurance: ontario.ca says inspectors are currently not required by law to have insurance coverage, although many do have general liability or errors and omissions policies. Its advice is to ask if they choose to have insurance; ask for the details in writing.

On the contract: the Office of Consumer Affairs suggests a written contract that lists the items to be inspected, the report deadline and the total cost before the work starts. It also suggests asking for a sample report, which shows how clearly an inspector explains what they find.

For names, the Office of Consumer Affairs suggests asking your renovator, friends and family for referrals, and ontario.ca suggests getting quotes from more than one inspector.

The most useful single request is a sample report from a home like yours, read before you book.