§ 143‑151.58. Duties of licensed home inspector.

(a) Home Inspection Report. – A licensed home inspector must give to each person for whom the inspector performs a home inspection for compensation a written report of the home inspection. The inspector must give the person the report by the date set in a written agreement by the parties to the home inspection. If the parties to the home inspection did not agree on a date in a written agreement, the inspector must give the person the report within three business days after the inspection was performed.

(a1) Summary Page. – A written report provided under subsection (a) of this section for a prepurchase home inspection of three or more systems must include a summary page that contains the information required by this subsection. All other subject matters pertaining to the home inspection must appear in the body of the report. The summary page must contain the following statement: "This summary page is not the entire report. The complete report may include additional information of interest or concern to you. It is strongly recommended that you promptly read the complete report. For information regarding the negotiability of any item in this report under the real estate purchase contract, contact your North Carolina real estate agent or an attorney."

The summary page must describe any system or component of the home that does not function as intended, allowing for normal wear and tear that does not prevent the system or component from functioning as intended. The summary page must also describe any system or component that appears not to function as intended, based upon documented tangible evidence, and that requires either subsequent examination or further investigation by a specialist. The summary page may describe any system or component that poses a safety concern.

(a2) State Residential Building Code. – If a licensee includes a deficiency in the written report of a home inspection that is stated as a violation of the North Carolina State Residential Building Code, the licensee must do all of the following:

(1) Determine the date of construction, renovation, and any subsequent installation or replacement of any system or component of the home.

(2) Determine the Code in effect at the time of construction, renovation, and any subsequent installation or replacement of any system or component of the home.

(3) Conduct the home inspection using the Code in effect at the time of the construction, renovation, and any subsequent installation or replacement of any system or component of the home.

In order to fully inform the client, if the licensee describes a deficiency as a violation of the Code in the written report, then the report shall include the information described in subdivision (1) of this subsection and photocopies of the relevant provisions of the Code used pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection to determine any violation stated in the report. The Board may adopt rules that are more restrictive on the use of the Code by home inspectors.

(b) Insurance, Net Assets, and Bond Requirements. – A licensed home inspector must continuously maintain general liability insurance and minimum net assets, a bond, or errors and omissions insurance as required in G.S. 143‑151.51(b).

(d) Record Keeping. – All licensees under this Article shall make and keep full and accurate records of business done under their licenses. Records shall include the written, signed contract and the written report required by subsection (a) of this section and the standards of practice referred to in G.S. 143‑151.49(a)(2) and any other information the Board requires by rule. Records shall be retained by licensees for not less than three years. Licensees shall furnish their records to the Board on demand. (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 724, s. 1; 1999‑149, s. 3; 2009‑509, ss. 2.5, 3.3, 3.7, 4.1, 4.2; 2022‑11, s. 11(b); 2022‑46, s. 24(a).)