Complaints

Complaints and Investigations (Discipline & Professional Practices Committee)

If you feel a PHPIC® Home Inspector has acted in an unethical or unprofessional manner you can complain to the Professional Home and Property Inspectors of Canada, and we will answer that complaint fairly and responsibly.

PHPIC® can only investigate and discipline it's own members.


What do I do?
First, try talking to your Home Inspector. If the two of you can't agree, your next step is to contact us. Refer to our Complaints Form to make sure you have all the information required to make a complaint. Complaints must be sent by mail.


How do I know whether to file a complaint?
PHPIC® will only handle complaints about Inspectors conduct and service. We investigate to determine whether the member has violated the bylaws, Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics or Code of Conduct.

Please note that the Committee does not mediate disputes, impose settlements, nor provide an opinion on the alleged negligence of a member suitable for other proceedings.


How will I know my complaint has been received?
A written acknowledgment is sent letting you know we have received your complaint. Each complaint is carefully reviewed and often our staff needs additional information. If we cannot help with a complaint, we will let you know. Otherwise, PHPIC® will keep you informed on what is happening to your complaint.


What happens to complaints?
The majority of complaints we deal with involve the service a Home Inspector has provided. We can solve most of these by working with you and your Home Inspector. Only a small number of complaints can't be solved this way, and result in further action.

These cases are forwarded to a Discipline Tribunal.

Discipline Tribunals
Discipline cases are usually heard by a panel of three committee members. At these tribunals, both the parties are invited to attend and have the opportunity to present evidence or call witnesses.

If the panel decides the Home Inspector should be disciplined, possible penalties range from a formal warning, requiring further training or suspension. In addition, conditions or restrictions may be placed on the Inspector.

Time Frame
To allow for a thorough investigation of the complaint this process may take several months to complete.
 

Complaints Help Form:
Please read the above information about the complaints process. Then, if you want to initiate a formal complaint against a Home Inspector, you can:

- Download the PHPIC DPPC Complaint Form in Acrobat PDF.  

- Contact us for complaints only