How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost in the GTA in 2026?

A home inspection in the Greater Toronto Area costs between $300 and $550 or more in 2026, depending on the type and size of the property. At Quality Inspections, condo inspections start at $300, new home warranty inspections at $350, and pre-purchase inspections of a house up to 2,000 sq ft at $450. Every inspection includes a digital report with photos and prioritized findings within 24 hours.

How Much Does a Home Inspection Cost by Property Type and Size?

A GTA home inspection starts at $300 for a condo unit and $450 for a house up to 2,000 sq ft, with larger, older or multi-unit homes priced by quote. These are Quality Inspections' starting prices for 2026. The final price depends on the home's size, age and type, so call for an exact quote on larger or older homes.

Inspection type	Property	Typical duration	Starting price
Condo inspection	Any size of unit	1–2 hours	$300
New home warranty inspection	Any size	1–3 hours	$350
Pre-purchase inspection	House up to 2,000 sq ft	2–3 hours	$450
Pre-purchase inspection	House 2,000–3,000 sq ft	3–4 hours	$550
Pre-purchase inspection	Over 3,000 sq ft, older or multi-unit	Varies	Quote
Mold and moisture assessment	Standard	1–2 hours	$250

A pre-offer inspection, done before you submit an offer, covers the same systems as a pre-purchase inspection and is priced the same way. See the pre-offer inspection details.

Duration is a good proxy for price. A 1–2 hour condo visit and a 3–4 hour walk through a 2,500 sq ft house involve very different amounts of roof, attic, foundation, mechanical equipment and report writing. For more on timing, read how long a home inspection takes.

Why Do Condos, Houses and New Builds Cost Different Amounts?

Condos, houses and new builds cost different amounts because each one puts a different set of systems inside the inspector's scope. The price follows the scope.

Condo unit. A condo inspection covers what's inside the unit: in-suite electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, windows, the balcony and signs of water damage. The roof, structure and common elements belong to the condominium corporation and are covered by the status certificate and reserve fund documents, not the inspection. Smaller scope means a flat $300 starting price for any size of unit. The status certificate vs. condo inspection guide explains how the two fit together.
Freehold house. A pre-purchase inspection adds the roof, attic, foundation, grading, exterior walls, decks and the full mechanical system. That's why house pricing is tiered by square footage.
New build. A new home warranty inspection looks for builder defects to report before your Tarion warranty deadlines. New homes don't have decades of renovations to unpick, so it's a flat $350 for any size. The Tarion warranty deadlines guide covers when to book.

What Changes the Price of a Home Inspection?

Five things move the price of a home inspection up or down: square footage, age, property type, extra units and add-on services.

Square footage. A bigger home has more rooms, more roof, more windows and often more mechanical equipment to check.
Age. Older homes in Toronto, Burlington and parts of Oakville often have layered renovations, older wiring and older plumbing. They take longer to inspect properly. If the house may have older wiring types, read the knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring guide before you book.
Property type. A condo inspection covers one unit. A detached house adds the roof, attic, foundation, grading and exterior.
Extra units. A legal or unofficial basement apartment means a second kitchen, a second electrical load and fire separation to look at. The basement apartment inspection guide explains what's involved.
Add-on services. A mold and moisture assessment is a separate service with its own price.

When you ask for a quote, give the inspector the address, approximate square footage, year built, whether there's a basement unit, and your condition deadline. That's enough to confirm a price up front instead of finding out on the day.

What's Included in the Price, and What Costs Extra?

A standard pre-purchase inspection includes a visual check of the home's structure, roof, exterior, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, insulation, ventilation and interior. It doesn't include specialized testing like radon, sewer camera scopes or wood-stove certification.

Every pre-purchase inspection from Quality Inspections includes:

A visual inspection of the home's major systems by a CAHPI Registered Home Inspector (RHI)
Moisture meter and thermal imaging checks to help find water that isn't visible yet
A digital report with photos and prioritized findings within 24 hours
A follow-up conversation to go over the findings
The chance to attend and ask questions during the inspection

The scope follows the standards of practice of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI). According to CAHPI's 2023 National Standards of Practice, inspections are visual, cover systems that are "readily accessible," and "are not technically exhaustive." The same standards say inspectors are not required to inspect pools and spas or determine the "presence of any environmental hazards."

Quality Inspections doesn't offer the services below. If your home needs one, book a qualified specialist separately and ask for their price.

Extra service	What it is	Who does it	When it's worth asking
Radon testing	Long-term measurement of radon gas indoors	A C-NRPP certified radon professional	Any home with a basement or ground-floor living space
Sewer camera scope	Camera run through the main drain to the city connection	A plumbing or drain specialist	Older homes, mature trees near the drain line, history of backups
WETT inspection	Inspection of a wood stove, wood fireplace or chimney	A WETT-certified professional	Any home with a wood-burning appliance, especially if your insurer asks
Asbestos or lead testing	Lab testing of material samples	A qualified environmental consultant	Older homes with suspect insulation, tiles or paint
Pool and hot tub inspection	Equipment, heater and safety check	A pool and spa specialist	Any home with a pool or hot tub
ESA electrical inspection	Inspection of electrical work for code	The Electrical Safety Authority, usually arranged by a licensed electrical contractor	After electrical repairs or upgrades
Mold and moisture assessment	Focused moisture investigation	Quality Inspections ($250)	Musty smells, past leaks or visible staining

A few notes on timing:

Radon takes longer than most deals allow. Health Canada's long-term test instructions call for a test of at least 3 months, and say to reduce the level within 1 year if it's 200 Bq/m³ or higher. That usually means testing after you move in. The radon testing guide covers the details.
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer, a non-profit training association. WETT Inc. links its certified inspections to insurance requirements, so call your insurer early if the home has a wood stove.
Sewer scopes are worth considering when there are signs of past water in the basement. See the basement flooding warning signs guide.

Is the Inspection Fee Worth It Compared With Repair Costs?

The inspection fee is usually small next to what a hidden roof, foundation, electrical or water problem can cost to fix, but the only way to know a repair cost is to get contractor quotes. Home inspectors don't price repairs. CAHPI's standards say inspectors are not required to determine "methods, materials, or costs of corrections."

Here's how to use the report to put real numbers on the table before your condition deadline:

Pull out the high-priority items. Safety issues and items to repair soon matter most for negotiation.
Call contractors the same day. A roofer, electrician, plumber or waterproofing contractor can often give a ballpark from photos and then confirm on site.
Bring quotes to your realtor and lawyer. Written quotes carry more weight than "the inspector said the roof is old."
Decide. Negotiate a price reduction or credit, ask the seller to repair, or walk away if the condition allows it.

The home inspection red flags guide covers the findings that most often change a buyer's decision.

Who Pays for the Home Inspection, and When?

In Ontario, the buyer usually books and pays for the home inspection, typically on the day of the inspection or before the report is released. The inspection protects the buyer's decision, so the buyer chooses the inspector.

How it works depends on how you buy:

Conditional offer. Your offer includes an inspection condition with a deadline, often a few business days. You book the inspection inside that window.
Pre-offer inspection. You inspect before you submit an offer, often because there will be competing offers. You pay even if you don't win the house. Some buyers see that as the cost of making a clean offer with less risk.
Pre-listing inspection. The seller pays for an inspection before listing, then shares it with buyers. Sellers use it to find and fix problems early, price accurately and reduce surprises during negotiation. Buyers can still book their own inspection, and many do.

On waiving the inspection, the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) is direct. RECO's competing offers page says "Foregoing a home inspection is a significant risk that a buyer needs to carefully consider." Read should you waive a home inspection condition before you decide. This isn't legal advice, so ask your real estate lawyer about the wording of any condition.

Does the Price Include HST?

Ask whether a quoted price includes HST, because home inspection quotes in Ontario may or may not show tax separately. The Canada Revenue Agency's GST/HST rates table lists Ontario's HST rate as 13%.

Prices on the Quality Inspections site are starting prices and don't state tax. When you book, confirm the total including any tax so there's no surprise on the invoice. On a $450 base price, 13% HST would add $58.50 if tax applies on top.

Is a Cheaper Home Inspection Worth It?

A cheaper home inspection isn't automatically a better deal, because Ontario has no provincial licence for home inspectors in force as of October 2026. That makes credentials, insurance and report quality the things to compare, not just price.

The province passed the Home Inspection Act in 2017. According to CAHPI's licensing page, the bill "received Royal Assent on April 13, 2017," and "Once proclaimed, this Act would regulate the home inspection industry." The same page lists Ontario licensing as "Pending" and says "Currently anyone in Ontario can call themselves a home inspector." Until licensing takes effect, the Registered Home Inspector (RHI) designation and association membership are the main signals of training and standards. The RHI guide explains what the designation requires.

What to Ask Before You Book

Before you book on price alone, ask:

Is the inspector a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) or a member of a recognized association such as CAHPI?
Do they carry errors and omissions and liability insurance? How much?
Can you see a sample report? Does it include photos and prioritized findings?
How soon will you get the report? In a conditional deal you may only have a few business days.
What's included, and what would need a separate specialist?
Does the quoted price include tax?
Can you attend and ask questions?

For reference, Harjot Grewal at Quality Inspections is a Registered Home Inspector (RHI), CAHPI member C2100887 and a professional engineer, with 8+ years of experience, thousands of GTA inspections and $2M liability insurance.

How Do Home Inspection Costs Compare Across GTA Cities?

Quality Inspections charges the same starting prices across the GTA. That includes Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Oakville and Burlington.

What differs between cities is the housing stock. A 1950s Toronto bungalow and a 2015 Vaughan detached house take different amounts of time. Downtown Toronto condo towers usually fall under the flat condo price. Brampton and Mississauga homes with basement apartments often need more time for the second unit. Older homes in Toronto and Burlington are more likely to need specialist follow-ups, such as a sewer scope or an electrician's opinion.

Local fire rules also apply everywhere in the GTA. Brampton Fire and Emergency Services notes that under the Ontario Fire Code, all Ontario homes must have "a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas." Missing alarms are something an inspection reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a home inspection for a condo in Toronto?

Condo inspections at Quality Inspections start at $300 for any size of unit and take 1–2 hours.

How much does a home inspection cost for a 2,500 sq ft house?

A pre-purchase inspection of a 2,000–3,000 sq ft house starts at $550 and takes 3–4 hours.

Who pays for the home inspection in Ontario?

The buyer usually books and pays for the inspection, because it protects the buyer's decision. Sellers sometimes pay for a pre-listing inspection to share with buyers.

Is the inspection price different for a pre-offer inspection?

No. A pre-offer inspection covers the same systems as a pre-purchase inspection and is priced the same way, by the home's size, age and type.

Does a home inspection include radon or sewer line testing?

No. Radon testing and sewer camera scopes are separate services from specialists, and Quality Inspections doesn't offer them. Health Canada recommends a radon test of at least 3 months, which usually happens after closing.

Do home inspectors in Ontario need a licence?

Not as of October 2026. The Home Inspection Act, 2017 received Royal Assent but CAHPI lists Ontario licensing as pending, so check credentials like the RHI designation and insurance.

How fast do I get the report?

You get a digital report with photos and prioritized findings within 24 hours of the inspection.

Sources

Book an Inspection

Call (416) 899-8116 or send the property details with your closing or condition date, and we'll confirm the price and a time. See what's covered in a pre-purchase inspection.