It’s important to use a Florida Licensed Home Inspector

Posted on Apr 2, 2014 in Home Inspections, Industry Updates | 0 comments

It’s Important to Use a Florida Licensed Home Inspector!!

Here at Asper Inspections our head Inspector, Jeff McGill, is not only a licensed home inspector, he is also a licensed plumbing, roofing and residential contractor.  All his knowledge is for your benefit!  We have had numerous clients tell us about inspectors they have been referred to that were either not state licensed or were not actual licensed Home Inspectors.  Never a good thing when you are making such an important purchase! For that reason we wanted provide our clients with these Florida Statues to give you a little understanding of what the requirements are here in the state of Florida.

Can Certified Division 1 Contractors legally provide Home Inspection services without an Home Inspector license, i.e. Home Inspections?

Reference: Florida Statute; Title XXXII, Chapter 468

Even though Home Inspectors have been licensed since 2011, there is still have a small group of general contractors who think they are Home Inspectors and do not carry a Home Inspectors license.

What are they saying?

Basically they are saying that the Construction Industry Licensing Board decided that Home Inspection services is included in their “authorized scope of practice” and they are exempt from the entire Home Inspector Law (Florida Statute; Title XXXII, Chapter 468).

Below is the one and only section they are using for justification:

468.831 Exemptions

The following persons are not required to comply with any provision of this part:

(2) A person acting within his or her authorized scope of practice as licensed under federal, state, or local codes or statutes, except when such person holds himself or herself out for hire to the public as a “certified home inspector,” “registered home inspector,” “licensed home inspector,” “home inspector,” “professional home inspector,” or any combination thereof stating or implying licensure under this part.

So, if the contractor can perform Home Inspections without an HI license on the assumption that they are acting within the “authorized scope of practice” for contractors, then none of the Home Inspector statutory requirements (chapter 468) apply to them. The contractors came to this assumption by way of the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). A board made up of contractors.

So, what do the other sections of the Home inspection licensing law or statute say?

468.83 Home inspection services licensing program; purpose

(1) There is created within the department the home inspection services licensing program.

(2) The Legislature recognizes that there is a need to require the licensing of home inspectors and to ensure that consumers of home inspection services can rely on the competence of home inspectors, as determined by educational and experience requirements and testing. Therefore, the Legislature deems it necessary in the interest of the public welfare to regulate home inspectors in this state.

468.8313 Examinations

(1) A person desiring to be licensed as a home inspector must apply to the department after he or she satisfies the examination requirements of this part.

(2) An applicant may practice in this state as a home inspector if he or she passes the required examination, is of good moral character, and completes a course of study of at least 120 hours that covers all of the following components of a home: structure, electrical system, HVAC system, roof covering, plumbing system, interior components, exterior components, and site conditions that affect the structure.

(3) The department shall review and approve courses of study in home inspection.

Now, you have read some of the Home Inspector statutory requirements we hope you feel even better with your decision to work with Asper Inspections! We look forward to helping your future home dreams come true.

 

 

 

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