Home Improvement Financing
Home Improvement Contractors: A Model State Statute
A Model State Statute / Research Report
Elizabeth Renuart, Attorney, National Consumer Law Center
Rich DuBois, National Consumer Law Center
June 1999
Older persons are more likely to live in older homes-homes that tend to be in need of repairs-and less likely to do the necessary repair work themselves, often relying on home contractors. Statutes that address abuses committed against consumers by dishonest home improvement contractors are crucial in protecting all consumers-and older homeowners in particular-who are trying to maintain their homes. A review of state statutes regulating home improvement contractors demonstrates that state regulation of these contractors varies widely. Based on this review, this 78-page model statute written by Elizabeth Renuart and Rich DuBois of the National Consumer Law Center, was developed for regulating home improvement contractors. It addresses three areas that are especially important to protecting consumers: regulating contractor conduct and coverage (including licensure, required and prohibited contract provisions, monetary prohibited acts and exemptions); creating resources for consumer recovery; and providing civil remedies and criminal penalties for violations of the law.
Pub ID: D16911