Consumer remedies. (a) General rule.-- The performance of a home inspection is a service that is subject to the act of December
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
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§ 7505. Consumer remedies. (a) General rule.-- The performance of a home inspection is a service that is subject to the act of December
17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection
Law. (b) Prohibited acts.-- Any of the following acts engaged in by a home inspector, an employer of a home inspector
or another business or person that controls or has a financial interest in the employer
of a home inspector shall be deemed to be an unfair or deceptive act or practice as
defined by section 2(4)(i) through (xxi) of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law: (1) Performing or offering to perform for an additional fee any repairs to a structure
with respect to which the home inspector, the employer of the home inspector or such
other business or person has prepared a home inspection report within the preceding
12 months, except that this paragraph shall not apply to remediation for radon or
wood destroying insects. (2) Inspecting for a fee any property in which the home inspector, the employer of the
home inspector or such other business or person has any financial interest or any
interest in the transfer of the property, including without limitation receipt of
a commission as an agent, unless the financial interest or interest in the transfer
of the property is disclosed in writing to the buyer before the home inspection is
performed and the buyer signs an acknowledgment of receipt of the disclosure. (3) Offering or delivering any commission, referral fee or kickback to the seller of the
inspected property or to an agent for either or both of the seller and the buyer for
the referral of any business to the home inspector, the employer of the home inspector
or such other business or person. (4) Accepting an engagement to perform a home inspection or to prepare a home inspection
report in which the employment itself or the fee payable for the inspection is contingent
upon the conclusions in the report, preestablished or prescribed findings or the closing
of the transaction. (c) Exception.-- A home warranty company that is affiliated with or retains the home inspector does
not violate subsection (b) if the home warranty company performs repairs pursuant
to claims made under a home warranty contract. (d) Remedies.-- In addition to any other remedies available under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law or other applicable provision of law, the owner of a property on which
repairs are performed in violation of subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled to a full
refund of any moneys paid for those repairs, and any promissory note or other obligation
to pay given to the person performing those repairs shall be void. Cross References. Section 7505 is referred to in section 7513 of this title.