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<chapter num="06" heading="Code of Ethics" title_num="09" subtitle_num="36">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Responsibilities to the Public.">
    <text>A home inspector shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Act as an impartial third party;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Discharge the home inspector's duties:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>With integrity and fidelity to the public;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>With fairness and objectivity to all parties; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Without bias to any party;</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>Always act in good faith towards a client;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>Express an opinion only if it is based on practical experience and personal knowledge;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>Promptly inform a client of any business association, interest, or circumstance that may influence the home inspector's judgment or the quality of the home inspector's inspection service to the client;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>Make every effort to uphold, maintain, and improve the professional practice, integrity, and reputation of the home inspection industry; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>Obey all federal and state laws, regulations, and local ordinances.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Prohibitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A home inspector may not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Except under circumstances in which the safety, health, property, or welfare of the public is endangered, disclose any information concerning the results of an inspection without the approval of the client for whom the inspection was performed;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service on the same property unless the home inspector makes full disclosure to all interested parties and obtains the consent of all interested parties; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Accept or offer a commission or allowance, directly or indirectly, to or from another party dealing with the client in connection with home inspection services for which the home inspector is responsible.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>A home inspector may not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Sell or offer to sell products for the repair of defects or the correction of deficiencies disclosed during an inspection to the client for a period of 1 year from the date of the inspection;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Provide or offer to provide services to repair defects or correct deficiencies disclosed during an inspection for a period of 1 year from the date of the inspection; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Express an appraisal or opinion of the market value of the inspected property within the context of the inspection.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Additional Services.">
    <text>A home inspector may provide additional inspection services to the client if the home inspector discloses to the client that the additional inspection services are not part of the home inspection.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Conflicts of Interest.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A home inspector shall avoid conflicts of interest with a client or an owner of property that is subject to an inspection by the home inspector.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If a conflict appears unavoidable, the home inspector shall disclose promptly and fully all circumstances of the conflict to the client.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Business Occupations and Professions Article, §§16-208(a)(2), 16-216(2), and 16-3A-07(e), Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: February 11, 2008 (35:3 Md. R. 289)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01E, F amended effective March 31, 2025 (52:6 Md. R. 267)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01G adopted effective March 31, 2025 (52:6 Md. R. 267)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>