Home energy audits will soon become mandatory in Ontario under new provincial legislation (check http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_d...detail_the_bill or http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2145 for more details).

All sellers of residential properties will have to purchase a home energy audit (cost approximately $300) before putting their property up for sale.

Some mixed reactions on this. Ontario Real Estate Association has rejected this legislation for fear it will be used to drive prices lower. Many others feel it is an necessary cost. It is already mandated in parts of Europe and has had the effect of improving the quality of housing stock. Others feel it will improve efficiency and allow the buyers to know the true cost of their home and where to make improvements in the future.

I'm curious, what are people's thoughts on this legislation?

It would certainly be a good tool for the buyer in negotiating the price, assuming the home had problems, as most older homes do. In my thinking, it might be more logical to have this audit fall under the recommended testing that buyers may want to have done.