Condo Inspection

Ontario.ca's list of what an inspector typically examines ends with condo common areas. How much of a building's shared space an inspector can look at depends on access: the federal Office of Consumer Affairs says a report "will be limited to describing conditions in the areas of the home that the inspector can see or has access to", and advises asking the seller or agent to make all areas accessible.

One of ontario.ca's questions fits condos well: "Do you have experience inspecting the type of home that I'm considering?"

Ontario.ca is plain about the limits: "A home inspection is not a pass or fail test. It doesn't assess if a home meets zoning or building codes." An inspector cannot see or find everything (it gives mould and a snow-covered roof as examples) and does not provide warranties or guarantees on a home's condition.

Newly built condo units fall under Tarion's warranty. For condo conversions, Tarion says "pre-existing elements are not covered by the one-year warranty".

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: "At this time, Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors." Ontario.ca suggests asking for a copy of the report the inspector uses, whether they have experience with the type of home, whether they choose to have insurance, what training and experience they can show, and for references; it also says to get a written contract and quotes from more than one inspector.

Published Ottawa-area inspector pages put a condo apartment at about $350 to $470 plus HST (2026). Ontario.ca's general range for home inspections is $350 to $600.