The short answer
Ontario does not impose one universal WETT-report requirement on every home sale. A buyer's insurer, lender, purchase condition, or other party may require a particular report. Get that requirement in writing before selecting an inspection level or booking deadline.
In the Southwestern Ontario real estate market, a wood-burning fireplace can be both a selling feature and a source of transaction questions. Buyers and insurers often want clear documentation about the appliance and venting system before conditions are waived or coverage is finalized.
Is a WETT Inspection Legally Required in Ontario?
It is a common point of confusion among London sellers whether provincial law explicitly mandates an inspection at the point of sale. Strictly speaking, no provincial statute forbids you from selling a property with an uninspected wood-burning appliance.
In practice, a buyer's insurer may require a report before binding coverage, and a purchase agreement may contain a wood-burning-system condition. Requirements vary. The useful first step is to ask the buyer, insurer, lender, or lawyer what document, inspection level, designation, and report date will be accepted.
When a Pre-Listing Inspection May Help
For some sellers in London, arranging the report scope requested by likely buyers or insurers before listing can reduce uncertainty. It is not essential for every sale and does not guarantee price, acceptance, or a particular closing outcome.
- Preventing Closing Delays: Identifying a documentation, access, maintenance, or installation concern before an offer deadline gives the parties more time to understand the next step.
- Clarifying the asset: A dated report and available appliance records can help buyers and insurers evaluate what is known and what remains outside the inspection scope.
- Managing negotiations: If concerns are documented, the parties can obtain qualified advice and address pricing, corrections, or conditions with better information.
Selling Soon? Find Out What You Need
Answer three questions to organize your likely next step, then confirm the required scope and deadline with the buyer, insurer, lender, or other report recipient.
The 3 mm Guidance: When Cleaning First May Help
A WETT inspection is a technical audit of safety and code compliance—it is not a cleaning service. A frequent and expensive mistake made by sellers is booking an inspection for a dirty system. This leads to the "Failure to Inspect" trap.
Combustible deposits are a fire concern and can obstruct the view of components. Ontario's Fire Code requires chimneys, flues, and flue pipes to be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them free from combustible deposits. Ask the inspector or sweep whether the system should be cleaned before the requested inspection scope.
Your Next Steps
A successful real estate transaction relies on removing friction. An unverified wood-burning system is a primary source of friction that leads to collapsed deals.
Before listing or waiving a condition, use the free triage tool to organize the transaction intent, appliance type, maintenance history, and location. It provides a preliminary next-step suggestion; the report recipient and qualified inspector must confirm the actual scope.
Buyer and seller timeline
| Stage | Buyer | Seller |
|---|---|---|
| Before an offer | Ask the insurer what it requires and consider a suitable condition. | Gather manuals, labels, prior reports, permits, and sweep records. |
| During conditions | Confirm the provider, inspection level, deadline, and report recipient. | Provide safe access and disclose known history or changes. |
| After the report | Send it to the insurer and obtain advice on documented concerns. | Address negotiated corrections or provide supporting documents. |
Sources and limitations
Last reviewed: July 23, 2026. This guide is educational, not legal, insurance, lending, or inspection advice.