U.K. Approves BRE Certification for Home Inspector Certification Scheme

January 30, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

The U.K. Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) appointed BRE Certification to operate a certification scheme for home inspectors.

Under this scheme, which is part of the introduction of home information packs (HIPs) in June 2007, home inspectors will be employed to prepare home condition reports (HCRs) and energy performance certificates (EPCs) that will be made available to potential house buyers.

The DCLG has set up standards that define the requirements and responsibilities expected of home inspectors. The BRE Certification scheme was designed to ensure that home inspectors adhere to these standards. The BRE Certification scheme will provide the framework that is needed, along with technical support from BRE specialists, to enable home inspectors to operate independently in an open market.

The certification scheme will assess home inspectors against the requirements set out in the DCLG standards, including a review of appropriate qualifications as well as other aspects such as criminal records and financial probity. Successful applicants will be awarded certificates and placed on a central register. Certification will be maintained through sampling and checking the HCRs and EPCs to demonstrate continued compliance with the scheme standards and requirements.

BRE Certification will be working with Quest Associates to deliver IT systems to support the scheme.

Thus far, 36 inspectors are pre-registered to join. More information is available on the BRE Certification web site at http://www.breinspector.co.uk.

Source: BRE.