Changes Are Coming To Ontario's Home Inspection Industry

Monday February 22, 2016 a bill was introduced proposing to mandate the Licensing of Home Inspectors in Ontario, and to require inspectors carry liability E&O insurance.
Bill 165, the Licensed Home Inspectors Act is can be viewed at this link
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=3733&isCurrent=false&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill
Currently in Ontario there is no regulation for home inspectors, no requirement certification, no requirement for insurance, no requirement for continuing education. This is an enormous risk for the Home Buyer. This poses a huge financial risk as well the condition of homes could also constitute a safety risk to homeowners
Currently only British Columbia and Alberta already licence their Home Inspectors.
With Bill 165, would make it illegal to perform a home inspection without a license and fines up to $10,000 per day could be imposed. It will be illegal for anyone without a licence to “take or use the designation “Licensed Home Inspector” or the initials “L.H.I.” or a description implying that the person is a “Licensed Home Inspector”. Again fines can be imposed
Licensees would be required to:

• meet a prescribed standard of practice (likely the new CSA Standard for Home Inspection which is in the process to get the national standard designation from the Standards Council of Canada)
• comply with the code of ethics established in the regulations
• maintain minimum insurance requirements set out in the regulations
• and to meet other conditions specified in regulations that will likely be drawn from Home Inspector Panel Report and Recommendations to the Minister of Consumer Services December 10, 2013 http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/showAttachment.do?postingId=14645&attachmentId=22811

The next estimated steps:
Feb 2016 - The first reading had a unanimous approval. There is nothing to suggest that given need to help protect consumers from huge financial disasters the members of the Assembly on both sides of the house will pass the Second and Third readings fairly quickly. March/April 2016 - The Bill may require 1 or 2 committee hearings and then be signed into legislation May/June 2016 - Expect the Minister of Government and Consumer Services (Hon David Orazietti MPP) to draw together the foundation for how a Designated Administrative Authority or DAA could be established. It is not known at this stage if a new DAA would be created or if an existing one would be tasked with taking on the Home Inspectors. Following that, the DAA would then have a number of items to create, for the regulation. Much of what they need is already in the Home Inspector Panel Report and Recommendations document
Based on past DAA formations in Ontario, the whole process to establish the initial announcement for regulation to be in the timeframe to fit BEFORE the house rises for the summer
Following that it is again estimated at 12-18 months to finalise the regulations, complete the transition process for which Home Inspectors will be required to meet licensing requirements and reach a point where licensing will be enforced

PHPIC

England's Stove Pellet Stove Recall

Recall of Pellet Stove  (Feb 2016) : If you have an England's Stove Works Pellet Stove then please view this recall information regarding smoke build up and possible damage to the glass in the door to request a Free repair kit

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Englands-Stove-Works-Recalls-to-Repair-Freestanding-Pellet-Stoves/

When is Aluminum Wiring NOT Aluminum Wiring

Inspecting older homes 1960's/70's vintage can sometimes expose problems with the wiring that maybe isn't the problem that you perceive it to be.
Wiring that looks like Aluminum wiring may not in fact be Aluminum. Care to try and see the ends of the exposed wires where they have been cut should be taken. This will confirm or contradict the fact that the wiring may be Aluminum. If signs of Copper colour at the cut surface will indicate that the wiring is "Tinned". The surface of the wire was covered with Tin during manufacturing, this was done for 2 purposes. 1 to reduce the interaction between the rubberised wire shielding and the copper wires as corrosion was a concern. 2 to give a better joint where a soldered joint was employed as this was a popular method of creating a secure effective connection.
If fact tinned wires were manufactured as early as 1915 so predating the popularity of Aluminum that was caused in the cost of copper spiking in the 60/70's so be careful not to flag Aluminum wiring and causing the stigma that has been felt by the Aluminum wiring being associated to your home.
The problem that may be existing with this type of wiring specifically is that during its lifetime the rubber shielding may have become brittle and become detached from the wire which then may become exposed. This is why a plasticised more durable shield was developed as is installed on modern wiring.
Aluminum wiring can very effectively and safely used in homes assuming the compatible fixtures, anti corrosion compound and components are used along with it or if "Pigtailing"is employed - Contact us for an inspection and / or advice on this issue.