Home inspectors in Ontario could soon be regulated under legislation the provincial Liberal government says it intends to introduce this fall.

Consumer Services Minister Marie-France Lalonde is announcing Wednesday that the bill would require home inspectors to be licensed and set minimum standards for contracts and home inspection reports.

It would also establish a body to administer and enforce the licensing and regulations.

Lalonde says the legislation would protect consumers by ensuring they benefit from quality advice and are aware of safety issues before buying a home.

The government estimates that in Ontario there are 1,500 home inspectors — one of the only professionals involved in a real-estate transaction to not be provincially regulated.

Ontario assembled a panel of industry experts in 2013 to draft a report on the issue and the panel recommended that inspectors be required to pass a written exam and a field test in order to become licensed.