The Ontario government is going to consult this fall with the home inspection industry – and apparently with home improvement industry consumer confidence builder Mike Holmes – as it moves to establish minimum qualifications for people who hang out their shingle as inspectors. A recent announcement from Margaret Best, minister of consumer services said that her ministry will, after the consultation, establish minimum qualifications for the trade.

Currently, there is only one group that has organized home inspectors in the province: the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI). It applauded the move:

“The Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services announced today that they would be pursuing consultation on minimum qualifications for Home Inspectors,” OAHI said. “This is welcoming news for the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI).  OAHI continues to be the only self-regulating home inspection organization in Ontario.  Our effort for consumer protection and for setting standards through the Member Qualifications System is again being recognized.  OAHI members chose to be part of a regulatory (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act, 1994), as well as a member organization with open membership.”