WHAT
IS A REGISTERED HOME INSPECTOR
(RHI)
Simply Stated a "Registered Home Inspector" or R.H.I. is a member
of The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors who has completed all the
required Educational, Technical, Experiential and Report Writing
requirements of the Association.
Home Inspection began as a consumer service in the early 1970's in direct
responce to the growing demand by home buyers, and it soon became apparent
that, for the consumer, selecting a qualified home inspector was becoming
as important as finding the right home.
The Canadian Association of Home Inspectors (CAHI) was formed in 1982,
and is a national organization of duly recognized provincial/regional associations.
The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI), formally organized in
1987, is the Ontario member of CAHI. Individuals cannot join CAHI directly,
but benifit from CAHI activities and programs by virtue of their status with
the OAHI. Many OAHI members also hold membership in The American Association
of Home Inspectors (ASHI), however, membership rights and requirements are
administered separately.
On December 9, 1994, the Legislature of the province of Ontario passed into law
the "Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act", granting the OAHI the right to
define qualifications and performance requirements, regulate its members
and the exclusive right to grant the designation "Registered Home Inspector
or RHI" for only qualified practitioners in the Province of Ontario.
One of the major goals of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors is to
enhance the technical and professional performance of home inspectors through
education. It is also devoted to promoting the
Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct, as the broadly accepted requirements for home inspections.
The Standards of Practice are a set of guidelines for home inspectors to follow
in the performance of their inspections. They are the most widely accepted home
inspection guidelines in use, and include all the home's major systems and components.
The Code of Conduct stress the home inspector's responsibility to act in a strictly
fair, impartial, and professional manner, and protect consumers by disallowing conflict
of interest activities.
The Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct are recognized by many government, professional, and legal authorities as a definitive
standard for professional performance.
The Act sets out the objects of the Association including the maintenance of high
professional standards, training, continuing education, discipline, public
awareness of the home inspection profession, and the maintenance of affiliations with
other organizations having similar interests.
The by-laws of the Association, which were passed in early 1995, stipulate
the categories of membership as well as the membership criteria and process.
The Ontario Association of Home Inspectors Act is the only provincial
legislation in Ontario related to home inspection. The "Registered
Home Inspector or RHI" designation is proof that inspectors have met the rigorous criteria for membership in the Association, and are governed in practice of their profession by the Association's by-laws and the Act.
For more information and a R.H.I. membership roster, contact the
Ontario
Association of Home Inspectors [P.O. Box 38108, Toronto,
Ontario
M5N 3A8; Telephone: (416) 256-0960; E-mail: (905) 436-2206] or
your local
O.A.H.I. member.
Call Brian Callaghan of
Alert Inspection
Services Ltd. At:
Phone (613) 860-6155
8:00 am to 8:00 PM 7 days a week ( voice/E-mail 24 hours)
E-Mail:
alert@travel-net.com
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Copyright © 1997 Alert Inspection Services Ltd.
Last updated: July 30,2002