House Bill 9 will protect consumers and the home inspection industry by requiring registration of home inspectors in Alaska.

Currently, anyone can call himself or herself a home inspector. There is no state agency overseeing the industry. Consumers desire assurance that the home inspector they hire is competent, and that they have recourse against inspectors that are not. HB 9 accomplishes this by establishing registration requirements, identification requirements, bonding, insurance, and proof of competency via examination and continuing competency requirements. Home inspectors will also be required to provide consumers with a written and signed inspection report.

A faulty inspection could have serious consequences for consumers, especially when they are buying or selling a home. Common sense dictates that home inspectors must be held accountable for their work. The legislation limits legal actions against a registered home inspector to a written home inspector report that is not more than 180 days old and/or unlawfully disclosed.

For ease of administration and in order to keep costs at a minimum, home inspectors are added to the statutes concerning specialty contractors. Clarifying language is inserted in the statutes as necessary.

I would urge your support for this legislation.

ED03: 03-27-03

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