Court sides with consumers, home inspector ordered to pay for negligence

Last April it became mandatory for anyone offering house inspection services in BC to be licensed and this week a home inspector was ordered by a BC supreme court judge to pay nearly $200,000 in compensation to his client. The BC supreme court's decision will have long term implications for newly organized home inspection industry.

The B.C. Supreme Court has ordered a home inspector to pay $192,000 in compensation to a North Vancouver couple for a faulty home inspection he performed. Home inspector's report estimated house repairs would only cost about $20,000, when in fact they totalled more than 10 times of the estimated amount. The judge found the buyers wouldn't have purchased the home had they been made aware of the extensive rotting beams and other structural problems.

Most licensed home inspectors are professionals but consumers must do their due diligence before hiring anyone because home inspection is very important part of the home buying process.