| All home inspectors are required to be licensed by January 1, 2003,
including individuals and entities practicing in the form of a corporation, a limited
liability company or a legally formed partnership. Local code enforcement officials and
state licensees acting within the scope of their employment or license are exempt from
licensure, as well as individuals giving bids on repairs on a property. Any person who
practices without a license shall pay a $10,000 civil penalty. The Home Inspector License
Act provides for pre-license and continuing education, establishes standards of practice,
and contains disciplinary provisions for inspectors that violate the Act or Rules. The
Act requires that home inspectors provide clients with a written report that indicates
components that have been inspected and are deemed to be "significantly deficient"
(defined in the rules as "unsafe or not functioning.") The Act does not provide for a
standard form for home inspection reports. The Act requires that there be a written
agreement between the inspector and the client detailing what is to be inspected and what
is not to be inspected. The standards of practice establish minimum standards for the
inspection of components and systems that are inspected per the written agreement. The
Act creates the Home Inspector Administration Fund and the Home Inspector Advisory Board. |