By By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 10, 2001
The Mississippi Association of Realtors will endorse legislation to restrict activities of unlicensed and home inspectors, officials said Tuesday.
Johnson said no laws now govern who qualifies to be a home inspector and, in the absence of certification or guarantees, home buyers can face a major dilemma in getting an accurate assessment of their prospective home's condition.
The legislation has already been endorsed by the Home Builders Association of Mississippi.
The proposed legislation, being introduced by Rep. Frances Fredericks, D-Gulfport, and Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport, would require home inspectors to have 60 hours of pre-license education, create a state home inspector's licensing exam, require 20 hours every two years for continuing education and also make business liability insurance mandatory.
Johnson said the bill's requirements are not excessive; in fact, they strongly resemble standards already set in the state for real estate licenses and home builders.
Under the bill's proposed penalty stipulations, violators would be subject to fines and penalties.
Almost 20 other states throughout the country have already passed similar legislation, Johnson said.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.