RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTS MUST INCLUDE…

A Notice on the DBPR site under Hot Topics has been issued regarding Governor Rick Scott recently signing House Bill 535. This Bill includes important updates to sections 489.1401-143, F.S., permitting payments to injured residential consumers from the Florida Homeowners Recovery Fund for both Division I and Division II scopes of work.

Effective July 1, 2016, all licensed contractors, both Division I and Division II, must ensure that the Florida Homeowner Construction Recovery Fund Notice is contained in their residential contracts.

According to section 489.1425(1): Each agreement or contract for repair, restoration, improvement, or construction to residential real property must contain a written statement explaining the consumer’s rights under the recovery fund, except where the value of all labor and materials does not exceed $2,500. The written statement must be substantially in the following form:

FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS’ CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND

PAYMENT, UP TO A LIMITED AMOUNT,MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM THE FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS’ CONSTRUCTION RECOVERY FUND IF YOU LOSE MONEY ON A PROJECT PERFORMED UNDER CONTRACT, WHERE THE LOSS RESULTS FROM SPECIFIED VIOLATIONS OF FLORIDA LAW BY A LICENSED CONTRACTOR. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECOVERY FUND AND FILING A CLAIM, CONTACT THE FLORIDA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LICENSING BOARD AT THE FOLLOWING TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS:

Construction Industry Licensing Board

2601 Blairstone Road

Tallahassee, FL

32399-1039

850-487-1395

You may review all changes made to the Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund by House Bill 535 at the following link: Laws of Florida Chapter 2016-129

Remember, don’t ever hesitate to call us at Licenses, Etc.! If we don’t have the information, we can find it!