Where can I get legal help for defective workmanship for a housing tract, ie leaking roofs, uneven foundations

Question

involves various things wrong in the subdivision

Answer 1

If you're talking about a home you purchased, a lot depends on the contract you signed. First move would be to contact the lawyer who did your closing. Home buying is a "buyer beware" situation. That's why people get paid to do home inspections. If you bought the home without having it inspected, there isn't much you can do about it now, other than having the defects repaired, at your expense. If you had the home inspected, have your lawyer contact the inspector. If your home is part of a community of houses all built by the same contractor, you could attempt to assemble your neighbors, contact a lawyer, and attempt a class action petition.

Even if you're a person who hired a contractor to build on a lot you own, your best bet is to contact your lawyer.

A note after reading some of the other answers:

Think hard before going to your local code enforcer! If there are violations, YOU could very well end up being the one responsible for correcting them. A code enforcers job is to make sure the codes are met... not to go after the contractors. A code enforcer may very well tell you you have a limited amount of time (30, 60, 90 days) to correct certain violations. They'll then come back at the end of that time and inspect the property again. If everything isn't fixed up, you could be charged a fine for every day the violations remain uncorrected... and those fines can run well into the thousands of dollars. Say you need to have your foundation repaired. Do you have $30K on hand to get a new contractor to your property to fix it in the given time frame??? What if they don't finish on time??? Then you have to pay the contractor AND the fines! Think about it!!!!! Like I said before, if you didn't get the home inspected, the fault could easily fall back to you.

I suggest you talk to a lawyer first!

Answer 2

Well unlike what everyone else is telling you local building officials won't be any help. There job is to simply make sure the minuim safety standards are being met and when they say minium thats wht most contractors follow. And these are for safety items. They do not inspect the quality of workmanship! For example they wel make sure the studs are placed 16 inches on center but they won't inspect to see if the wall is plum or sqaure. Its just not there job.

The proper way to handle this is to first contact the developer. Allow him the oppurtunity to fix there mistakes. Some well and many more won't.

If this doesn't work file a complaint with your local states contractors board which holds the licsene for your builder. This well get the developers attention alot of the time and they'll comply quite often.

Depending on how old the tract is you may have no legal recourse against the builder, as some tohers have said its buyer beware and your responsible for dueing your due diligence before purchasing the house. (i.e. home inspections)

You could contact a lawyer and possibly file for class action status but I wish you luck finding a lawyer as its a hard case to win and developers typically have deep pockets to fight back with.

As a last resort the thing I find often works best is word of mouth. If the developer is building a new development somewhere contact the local paper and tell them the experience you and your neighbors have been having with your homes from that developer. Lots of time they'll fix your homes just to get you to shut up as bad press well hurt their home values when they try selling those new homes.

Wish you luck!

p.s. Depending on what state you live in, for example in california you can't sign away your right to sue. So even if you signed a paper agreeing the house was fine you can change your mind now and sue away. Just like I said earlier I wish you luck because in order to be held liable you have to prove the builder knew the house was defective when he sold it to you and failed to disclose that fact.

Answer 3

What warranties do you have? Dilly dallying on Yahoo Answers want get you much. You need to talk to building officials, contractors, and the general contractor responsible for overseeing the construction.
Different states, municipalities have different laws governing malpractice of a contractor.
Calling a lawyer should be your last recourse after you are sure you have a case and the builder refuses to repair your home.
Be sure to communicate with the builder in writing as well as in person. Keep a diary and send the builder your written version of any oral communications you have with him.

Answer 4

first stop is your local codes and building office

then you can hope some lawyer wants to get involved in it

most house contracts have a clause that says "if you arent sure get it inspected " and after signing it becomes an as is type situation

sadly over half the builders and assorted contractors have no clue what they are doing
they just tossed up the lowest bid and cut corners anywhere they thought they could as soon as they realized they under bid the work

Answer 5

Ask for copies of the inspection reports.
When a house is built, permits are required. Inspections are required as part of the permit process.
If there aren't permits, the builder will have to answer to the local code officials, and the officials may require the builder to correct the problems.

Answer 6

First step go to the city's building code enforcement department. Next step the city better business bureau. If you can't get satisfaction then get an attorney.

Answer 7

You might get the complaining owners together
and approach the builders and sellers as a group.
Threaten a class action suit.

Answer 8

you could start by looking in the phone book for lawyers that will take your type of case. good luck