What we look at
We inspect a suite like the rest of the house, with extra attention to what keeps people safe when two households share a building.
- Fire separation: continuous drywall between the units, gaps around pipes and ducts, and the door between the suite and the main home
- Alarms: smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in each unit, and whether they’re interconnected
- Exits: a way out from each unit, and bedroom windows that are easy to open and large enough to escape through
- Heating and ventilation: whether a shared forced-air system could carry smoke from one unit to the other
We also look at electrical and plumbing work that appears to have been added for the suite, such as a second kitchen, extra circuits or a laundry.
Current practice for new suites
For new suites in BC, current practice is a fire separation between the suite and the rest of the house, smoke alarms in each unit interconnected so they sound in both, carbon monoxide alarms where there’s a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, and bedrooms with a window or door to the outside that’s easy to open and large enough to get through. The door between the units matters too; the diagram below shows what to look for. An older suite may not meet all of this, which doesn’t make it unusable, but it does point to upgrades.
Legality, permits and insurance
Whether a suite is permitted, registered or allowed to be rented is a question for the municipality, not something a home inspection decides. Each municipality has its own permit and inspection process, so check the property’s permit history with the city or district, and talk to your realtor and lawyer before subject removal. Tell your insurer about the suite, too, and ask how it affects your coverage.
What our inspection covers
The report treats the suite as part of the house, gives each safety item a timeframe, and says where a door, alarm or exit falls short of current practice. If work looks unpermitted, the report says so and suggests checking with the municipality before you remove subjects. We don’t confirm permits, zoning or whether a suite is legal, and a home inspection isn’t a code-compliance check.
Buying a house with a suite? Book an inspection, and tell us if you plan to rent it out.
Reviewed October 26, 2026 by Nick Hawley, Watch House Inspections. General information, not advice about a particular home.