Recently, some home inspection companies have been found to assign hourly temporary workers to conduct home inspections, resulting in inconsistent inspection quality. Since a home inspection plays an important role in ensuring future living safety and peace of mind, we recommend that homeowners verify whether inspectors are full-time professionals with government-issued certifications before selecting a home inspection company, ensuring a more reliable inspection experience.

The Chinese Housing Quality Inspection Association has reported a significant increase in complaints related to home inspection disputes. Many homeowners have expressed concerns that the inspectors assigned on the inspection day lacked sufficient professional qualifications. As a result, despite hiring a home inspection company, homeowners were unable to identify hidden defects or request necessary improvements from developers. Problems such as water leakage, hollow tiles, and wall cracks were only discovered after the property was handed over.

The association’s investigation further revealed that some operators, in an effort to reduce costs, have replaced professional engineers with hourly temporary workers. The association urges consumers to verify inspectors’ labor insurance records and professional certifications before engaging a home inspection service to avoid potential risks and protect their rights.

The association previously received a complaint from a homeowner in New Taipei City who joined a group-buy home inspection service promoted in a community chat group. The service was priced approximately 30% lower than market rates, and with enthusiastic recommendations from several users, the homeowner felt confident in participating.

However, on the day of the inspection, the homeowner discovered that only several temporary workers arrived. They lacked sufficient professional knowledge, were unable to provide clear explanations, and rushed through the inspection in less than an hour because they needed to leave for another appointment.

Shortly after taking possession of the property, the homeowner began experiencing issues including water leakage in the master bedroom and water accumulation on the balcony. However, since the inspectors did not hold recognized professional certifications, the developer refused to accept the inspection report, resulting in a prolonged dispute over necessary repairs.

Two Ways to Identify Unreliable Home Inspection Services: Check Labor Insurance Records and Verify Professional Certifications

The association advises consumers to research home inspection companies carefully and verify their professional background before making a decision, as choosing a low-cost service may compromise inspection quality. The association also provides two simple ways for consumers to identify potentially unreliable home inspection providers and avoid services that rely on unqualified temporary workers.

Tip 1: Check Labor Insurance Enrollment Records

Consumers may request the “Report on the Number of Insured Employees” issued by Taiwan’s Bureau of Labor Insurance under the Ministry of Labor from the home inspection company.

According to regulations, companies are required to enroll eligible employees in labor insurance. If the number of insured employees is significantly inconsistent with the company’s claimed inspection team size, or if the company is unable to provide supporting documentation, consumers should carefully evaluate whether the company relies heavily on temporary workers to conduct inspections.

Tip 2: Verify Government-Issued Professional Certifications

Currently, Taiwan does not have a dedicated government-issued “home inspector” license. However, relevant professional qualifications should be based on government-issued certifications, such as Republic of China Technician Certificates or the Ministry of the Interior’s Construction Site Supervisor Practice Certificate.

The association reminds consumers to carefully verify claimed qualifications. Some home inspection companies may present internal ISO training certificates as professional credentials; however, these documents do not carry the same level of public recognition as government-issued certifications and cannot independently demonstrate professional inspection capability.