In 2012, following numerous consumer complaints, and media reporting, the Ontario Government recognised a need to regulate the Home Inspection Profession.

After 5 years of consultation, 4 ministerial changes, months of debate and days of parliamentary wrangling, an all-party act, The Home Inspection Act, 2017 received royal assent.

Since then, and another 3 ministerial changes, the Ontario Government has done nothing with it.

• We have seen Home prices rise by tens of multiples of the rate of inflation.
• We have the consumer financing extended to perhaps beyond breaking point with home buyers so overextended financially they cannot maintain the properties that have been financed.
• Mortgage vs GDP is at the highest ever rate.
• The Real Estate market has been manipulated to limit buyers abilities to properly assess the conditions of properties
• Home Inspectors are being solicited to provide shortcuts to the Home Inspection process, either to provide limited coverage to this problem or to help in the marketing of a home.
• RECO, the Realtor regulator is unable to restrain poor practices of Realtors with respect to Home Inspections, appraisers are unable to ascertain the true values of the properties, and the number of court cases is on the rise from disgruntled purchasers.
• General public confidence in the Home Inspection profession is at an all-time low.

Regulation of the Home Inspection Profession was originally seen as a way to provide better protection for the consumers by penalising and weeding out the unprofessional inspectors. 

We see this legislation, as providing much much more.   

1. It provides the lynchpin that will allow other regulators to reign in bad practices in the Real Estate Market.
2. It provides a stable platform to allow appraisers, lenders and insurers to rely on unbiased objective opinions, from a regulated professional, on the conditions of properties they are betting their businesses on.
3. It gives consumers confidence that a Home Inspection, whether performed for the Seller, Buyer or any agent will be performed to the same high standard, and it holds the Inspector properly accountable for any malpractice.

All we need is for the elected officials to push this forward.

What we need to get that to happen is a louder voice.   

Your signing of this petition will help raise that voice above the whisper that is currently drowned out by those that prefer the status quo.