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Board hears complaints about home inspectors performing WDO work; staff asked to investigate unlicensed activity
Summary
Multiple public commenters reported instances of home inspectors including wood‑destroying organism (WDO) findings in home inspection reports. The board asked enforcement staff to investigate unlicensed activity and requested complainants file formal complaints; staff will report back at the next meeting.
Several industry speakers told the Structural Pest Control Board they are seeing home inspectors perform or describe wood‑destroying‑organism (WDO) work and recommendations that, industry members said, are properly within the scope of licensed pest control professionals.
Billy Gaither, a licensee who described multiple incidents in Solano County and elsewhere, said he has observed home inspection reports that include WDO findings and even sections labelled "WDO inspection findings and recommendations." "We have an unsolved problem here with unlicensed activity," Gaither said, asking the board to take action to stop unlicensed performance of termite inspections and related work.
Board members and staff discussed enforcement options. Counsel and enforcement staff reminded attendees that the board’s investigatory process requires a complaint and encouraged anyone with specific written reports or other documentary evidence to file a complaint with the board so enforcement could evaluate the allegations. One board member asked staff to investigate the scope of the reported problem and to return with findings and an enforcement plan for the next meeting; staff agreed to include an update on the July agenda.
Industry trade representatives — including a representative from the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREA) — told the board they have standards of practice discouraging home inspectors from reporting WDO findings as a substitute for licensed inspections and offered to help with outreach. The board also discussed sending educational letters or website notices to accreditation/inspection organizations (Korea/CREA, ASHI, InterNACHI) and to the California Association of Realtors (CAR) to remind home inspectors and realtors about appropriate scope and referral to licensed pest professionals.
The board did not launch formal enforcement actions during the meeting but directed staff to investigate alleged unlicensed activity, accept and process complaints, and return with an initial report and recommended next steps at the next board meeting.
