Property Inspections
Changes can occur to properties and it’s our job to keep information up-to-date and accurate.
Property inspections are one of the ways we regularly review property details to ensure accurate assessments reflect the current state and condition of a property.
In-person property inspections
In-person property inspections help us ensure that we have up-to-date information about your property and that its assessment is accurate. We may send a property inspector to your home if:
- A building permit has been issued by your municipality because your home has been newly built or has undergone renovations/additions.
- There is a sales review because you recently purchased your residential property.
- You have submitted a Request for Reconsideration.
- You have filed an appeal with the Assessment Review Board.
- We're carrying out a neighbourhood inspection, inspecting all the homes in an area. This happens when:
- There have been many sales in your area.
- We haven't inspected the neighbourhood for many years.
- We have experienced a high number of Requests for Reconsideration or appeals to the Assessment Review Board in the neighbourhood.
Virtual inspections powered by PropVu
In some cases, MPAC may use virtual property inspection to update or verify property information remotely when appropriate.
MPAC Virtual Inspections powered by PropVu allow an MPAC representative to connect with a property owner or authorized contact through video technology to review relevant property details. This gives MPAC another way to collect property information when an in-person inspection may be difficult to conduct, when access is challenging, or when a property owner may prefer not to have someone enter their home.
Virtual inspections are an additional tool. They do not replace in-person inspections. In-person inspections continue to be an important part of MPAC’s work.
If you have questions about a virtual property inspection or need support, please contact our Customer Contact Centre.
What to expect with a property inspection
Property inspections may take place in person or, when appropriate, through MPAC Virtual Inspections powered by PropVu.
Before any inspection, MPAC will provide information about what to expect and any next steps required from the property owner. Before any inspection, MPAC will provide information about what to expect and any next steps required from the property owner.
You may receive a letter from us indicating that we will be in your community within the next eight weeks to inspect your property.
Alternatively, you may receive a letter asking you to call us so we can update or verify your property information by phone.
When we arrive, we’ll present ID, measure structures, take photos and update property details.
If someone isn’t home, we’ll leave a door hanger with information about the next steps.
If there’s a change to the value or classification of your property, we’ll mail you a notice.
All properties in Ontario continue to be assessed based on January 1, 2016, values, including those that were recently sold or constructed.
Review the information included on your notice.
Log on to MPAC AboutMyPropertyTM to access the information we have on file for your property and a copy of your Property Assessment Notice(s).
If you disagree with the assessment, you can file a Request for Reconsideration.
Other ways we collect property data
We regularly collect property data to ensure accurate assessments. Though on-site property inspections are where you’ve most likely seen us, we also collect information through:
- land title documents registered at Ontario Land Registry Offices
- digital imagery
- building permits and plans obtained from local municipalities
- discussions and correspondence with property owners
- data collection questionnaires
