New Home Inspection Regulation Aims to Protect Buyers’ Rights in Massachusetts

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) has finalized a new regulation designed to protect Massachusetts homebuyers by ensuring they are fully informed of their right to a home inspection. Set to take effect for contracts signed after October 15, 2025, this regulation implements a key provision of the Affordable Homes Act signed by Governor Healey in 2024.

In response to public and industry feedback, the final rule includes several updates, such as a flexible inspection timeline, stronger contract protections, and a clear disclosure requirement that sellers must provide. It also clarifies that buyers may choose to waive inspections—so long as they are not pressured to do so—and includes targeted exemptions for new construction and family transactions.

At its core, the regulation seeks to address the growing concern that competitive market pressures have pushed many buyers into waiving inspections, potentially exposing them to costly or unsafe conditions. With this change, the state aims to promote transparency, fairness, and better-informed homeownership decisions across Massachusetts.