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Home Inspection Standards

Inspector Licensing

Home inspectors must meet the following NYS requirements:

  • Take and pass state approved, 140 hour training course, of which 40 hours must be unpaid field based inspections under the supervision of a licensed home inspector, or
  • Have participated in at least 100 supervised home inspections; and
  • Pass the state written examination, and
  • Show proof of adequate liability insurance, and
  • Meet Continuing Education standards, to renew their license, every two years.

Minimum Requirements

Home inspectors must:

  • observe and report on readily accessible, visually observable installed systems and components as set forth in the Standards of Practice;
  • report on the systems/components observed that are deficient, not functioning properly and/or unsafe; and
  • list in the written report any major components not observed and explain why the component was not observed.

Written Contracts

Home inspectors must provide clients with a written pre-inspection agreement clearly and fully describing the scope and cost of services, prior to the inspection commencement.

Non-Disclosure

Home inspectors shall not disclose the contents of a home inspection report, or any observations or opinions that pertain to a home inspection report without client’s/representative’s consent.

Unlicensed & Unlawful Activity

If, after notice to the client their requested conduct is unlawful or unethical, the client insists upon a home inspector engaging in unlawful and/or unethical conduct, the home inspector shall be permitted to immediately withdraw from the assignment or contract.

Home inspectors shall not:

  • engage in, knowingly permit or aid and abet, unlicensed or activity that is prohibited by Article 12-B of the Real Property Law;
  • determine property boundary lines or any limitations of use of the property;
  • determine compliance with regulations, codes, laws or ordinances;
  • determine the market value of the property or its marketability

 

Written Reports

Home inspectors shall:

  • provide a written report of the results of a home inspection,
  • not willfully make a false report or false or misleading statements in the context of home inspection activities and/or a home inspection report,
  • clearly identify the systems/components that were observed, and
  • describe the scope of work, the services provided, and the systems/components included and excluded from the inspection if the inspection does not meet the minimum requirements as set forth in the Standards of Practice.