Thread: PEO to keep tabs on possible licensing of home inspectors - Ontario

PEO to keep tabs on possible licensing of home inspectors
Nov. 2016
http://engineeringdimensions.peo.on....me-inspectors/

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Originally Posted by Raymond Wand

PEO to keep tabs on possible licensing of home inspectors
Nov. 2016
http://engineeringdimensions.peo.on....me-inspectors/

Thanks, Ray.
Again the big questions lay, if passed.

I am all for consumer protect! That starts with regulations. Company Visibility On The Street.
If Ontario consumer protection is the main purpose, and not just a side note, visibility to the consumer is paramount! Even door to door salespeople have to wear identification. Company vehicles require vehicle signage. That is law. Let them start at the beginning by enforcing what is on the books already, instead of allowing what is already regulated to be swept to the side to push through this agenda.

As to the engineers' caveat.
Engineers are not defect recognition specialist covering all components of a home.
If/when they acquire a home inspection certification, engineers can inspect a home in full and hang another shingle on the wall. They can consult, but on what they have been formally educated on.

There crosses the line of home inspector, engineer , architect and technologist.
Just my 2 cents.

I found this sentence from the article misleading -

"While home inspection is not considered part of traditional engineering practice, there is no standard scope of work available for the service."

That is just not true, what standards do they think have been used in the courts all these years? It's a standard based on ASHI SOP which have been the standard for well over two decades. And contrary to what is printed above the SOP's are readily available on-line and used as part of the contract or referred to by the inspector to the client. Not to mention the constant media attention regarding home inspections in the news and standards.

But then I got this in my email this morning and needless to say licencing never solves all problems.
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business...mera-1.3825841

Further one must also consider the CSA Home Inspection Standard which may or may not be recognized as the new national SOP. CAHPI has stated its will be using the CSA standards.

http://www.cahpi.ca/index.php?option...mid=56&lang=en

The article talks about 'consistency' but the CSA are not any better at consistency than the current standards in my opinion and may actually create more liability. Further the copyright issue and use of the standards from CSA does not serve the consumer since a consumer will have to pay to have the privilege of reading the standards something which is not done with the current standards. How is that helpful to the consumer?

Once again in my view the message is being skewed to suit an agenda, just like the oft repeated bull about the number of complaints about bad inspections. Facts do not back up the message being spewed by the media nor the ministry!

For your info,a new home inspection standard has been developed in BC
and is going to be presented to the government shortly. It was developed last winter.
It is highly likely it will be adopted. This came out in a seminar last week. It is unlikely
the attorney general's office is going to make any changes because
"...... they don't know". It is very similar to the ASHI standard. The CSA
standard is not going to be recommended because "no one likes it".

- - - Updated - - -

For your info,a new home inspection standard has been developed in BC
and is going to be presented to the government shortly. It was developed last winter.
It is highly likely it will be adopted. This came out in a seminar last week. It is unlikely
the attorney general's office is going to make any changes because
"...... they don't know". It is very similar to the ASHI standard. The CSA
standard is not going to be recommended because "no one likes it".

Let me premise by stating I'm not against an architect or engineer performing home inspections as long as they have met the same background review to gain a license in Ontario to practice Home Inspections.

Personally I have performed home and building inspections for a few local architects and engineers. At least they acknowledged their limitations.

Here's from the proposed new Bill 59 to license Home Inspectors in Ontario.

"Non-application of Act
2. Subject to the regulations, this Act does not apply to a holder of a licence or certificate of practice under the Architects Act or a holder of a licence, limited licence, temporary licence, provisional licence or
certificate of authorization under the Professional Engineers Act."

The above stated “non-application of Act” fails to address the fact that Architects and Engineers are typically not specifically trained or educated to conduct “home inspections”. In fact in the case of the a professional engineer there are many different types of engineering degrees that are not relevant to home or even building inspections.

There must be “reasonable” background review in order to assure that Architects and Engineers can perform to the same and consistent level as a properly trained and educated home inspector that will be required to attain a valid license to practice.

Does the name Imre Toth a BC a CAHPI home inspector and architect and the ($192,000 +/- judgment) come to mind? This provides a significant evidence that other professionals can fail in the performance of a home inspection to meet a Home Inspection SOP.

An architect or engineer must and should be held to a higher standard of care.

In reply to Steve,

Agreed about CSA Standard, further the public cannot access it to compare apples to apples. Another erroneous piece of info circulating is that there is no common standards of practice. Thats at odds with CSA since CSA took the best of the two standards, ASHI and Nachi and created their own. In addition the current SOP are recognized by the courts. Something CSA cannot claim with their SOP.

For amusement purposes only.

https://www.heimer.com/Inspection-En...-Engineer.html

Great read Ray.
Much thanks.