On July 22, 2010, Attorney General Tom Corbett announced legal action against various home improvement contractors for violations of Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The Press Release can be found on the Attorney General’s website.
For information on how to comply with Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, please contact Theodore F. Claypoole.
Today, April 22, 2010, the final portion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule takes effect. All contracting firms performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must now be certified, use individuals with accredited training and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. To become certified, your firm must submit an application and fee payment to EPA and you must ensure that each of your employees working with lead paint is properly trained. In addition to the certification, the owner of the property must be provided with certain disclosures and you will need to properly document receipt. For more information on the new lead paint rules, please contact Denise C. Werkley.
The application and more general information about the Lead Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule can be found at the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
In early 2010, the Pennsylvania Builders Association, among others, filed a lawsuit to stop the implementation of a new and updated Uniform Construction Code in Pennsylvania. Copies of the filing are available on the Builders Association website. Among the provisions objectionable to the Builders Association was a provision requiring new single family and townhomes in Pennsylvania to be equipped with sprinklers. The fire sprinkler requirement states that newly constructed townhomes built after January 1, 2010, and all newly constructed one- and two-family homes built after January 1, 2011 must contain a residential fire sprinkler system. The lawsuit sought an injunction asking for the implementation of the Code to be stopped immediately
The Commonwealth Court denied the requested for an injunction earlier this month, meaning that the case will progress and in the meantime, the requirement for sprinklers is in full force. For more details, see this article on the injunction.
If you would like more information on real estate issues in Pennsylvania, please contact Denise Werkley.
By: Daniel P. Dwyer
Please read my blog to learn about the 2009 update to the Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Law.
Contact Daniel Dwyer for more information.
Contractors who do home improvements can now register with the PA Attorney General’s office at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx.
For more information see this earlier post about the new Home Improvement Business Registration regulations, or contact Theo Claypoole.
If you are a contractor who owns or operates a home improvement business or who undertakes, offers to undertake or agrees to perform any home improvement in Pennsylvania, you may be subject to the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which becomes effective July 1, 2009. This new law may require you, among other things, to: (1) register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Pennsylvania Attorney General; (2) maintain liability insurance in an amount not less than $50,000.00; (3) make certain disclosures; and (4) have a written home improvement contract with certain required provisions (otherwise, the contract may be void). You can view the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act by clicking here.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx
For more information about the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act or how it may impact your business, please contact Theodore F. Claypoole
