Starting in April, the people who inspect homes for potential buyers in B.C. will have to be licensed.
Solicitor General John van Dongen says home-inspector training has been voluntary until now.
He says the licensing requirement will ensure home inspectors are qualified to do the job and offer better protection to buyers and sellers.
Van Dongen says the licensing will be handled by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority, which will also have the power to look into any complaints from consumers and impose fines.
He says the licensing regulations were put together with input from three private home inspection organizations operating in B.C.
To become licensed, inspectors will need to meet the qualifications of either the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of B.C. or the National Certification Program for Home and Property Inspectors.
With files from The Canadian Press
