The entirely new profession of Home Inspector (HI) has resulted from the option to include a Home Condition Report (HCR) in the sellers Home Information Pack (HIP).  Only a qualified accredited HI has the authority to carry out the Home Inspection required to produce an HCR. Home inspectors also have the authority to carry out the work of a Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) to produce the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The EPC is a mandatory part of the HIP. (The reverse is not true. A DEA cannot produce an HCR.)

Members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) who currently carry out surveys for the home buyer are required to undertake further training in order to become a Home Inspector. The time required to become fully accredited is about 2 to 5 months depending on the course and the individual.

The Home Inspector profession is also open to people who have not had any previous experience in the building profession. In this case the process is likely to take nearly 1 year or more.

As well as taking exams trainees are required to produce an extensive portfolio of evidence of learning and practical experience. The qualification is a Level 4 Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) awarded by ABBE (Awarding Body for the Build Environment). This is at a similar level to a Pass Degree, HND or NVQ for managers. Level 4 is described as:

“Competence which involves the application of knowledge and skills in a broad range of complex technical or professional work activities performed in a wide variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present.” (source)

In comparison the qualification for a Domestic Energy Assessor is at Level 3.

Full HIP has taken the decision to use professionally qualified and accredited Home Inspectors where possible. We believe that the additional training and experience of Home Inspectors will ensure the most accurate certificates. This is part of Full HIP's commitment to providing a top quality service with added value. We will, however use Domestic Energy Assessors if they are Trainee Home Inspectors who have qualified as a DEA or have been recommended by a Home Inspector.

In line with all professions the following applies to any work carried out by a Home Inspector;

• A Home Inspector has a demanding ‘duty of care’, similar to that of other property professionals. ‘Duty of care’ has a legal meaning in connection with the law relating to negligence.
• The professional always acts in the best interests of the seller or client, putting aside personal interests, prejudices, or undue external influences in giving advice while carrying out their work.
• Is impartial towards all interested parties (steakholders) to ensure that no particular party becomes advantaged with respect to the others. This includes his client, even if it means telling them things which they would rather not be told
• Is objective. Objectivity in reporting means it must be undistorted by any emotion or personal biased, and based solely on the physical reality of what was observed or deduced from professional experience at the time of the inspection
• Is bound by mandatory ethical codes of practice. If found to be in breach of these codes then disciplinary action will be taken and may be prevented from carrying out Home Inspections.
• Carried out in accordance with statute law

Home Inspectors may be members of the Institute Of Home Inspection or the National Association of Registered Home Inspectors.

Other professionals involved directly in the sale or building of properties are;

• Solicitors. The legal profession is heavily involved in advising parties in land transactions because it is a complicated process usually involving large sums of money and long term consequences. The professional title of ‘solicitor’ is protected by law and it is a criminal offence for anyone to call themselves a solicitor if they are not registered with the Law Society.
• Chartered Surveyors. All members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) are professionally qualified chartered surveyors.
• Structural Engineers. Specialists in the design and analyses of structural mechanics. The professional body is The Institute of Structural Engineers.
• Architects. The term ‘Architect’ is is protected in law the same way as a ‘solicitor’. All architects have to be registered to practice. Their professional body is the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

You may have spotted that there is one ‘profession’ connected with the property market not mentioned above - Estate Agent. That is because being an Estate Agent is not a profession and has much less regulation in law. Estate agents are likely to be members of the National Association Of Estate Agents. After April 2008, all Estate Agents will be required by statute to belong to an Ombudsman or other government-approved redress scheme.