November 4, 2022, 4:42 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Leaky basements, cracks in the masonry, or crooked doors–property owners know the problem when construction is done sloppily. Unfortunately, the damage often becomes visible only after years.
Regrettably, shoddy construction is no longer the exception but has become the rule. About 40 percent of all newly built single-family and two-family homes have defects in their construction. Thirty-eight percent have issues with building equipment, such as heating or ventilation systems, according to a study by the Institute for Building Research (IfB). However, homeowners do not have to bear the costs. Warranty is the magic word when defects in the house are discovered.
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What should you do if you find defects in your house?
Generally, homeowners have up to five years after the acceptance of construction to report defects in the house, as the warranty is valid for that long, according to the Homeowners Protection Association. These identified defects must be reported to the responsible company in writing as a “notice of defects.” Additionally, you must set a reasonable deadline for the company that caused the damage.
Playing it safe
It is important to know that the deadline continues even after reporting the damage. If the contractor does not respond, homeowners should consider taking legal action to ensure the warranty does not expire and they can no longer claim the defects in the house. If the contractor responds, the statute of limitations is interrupted.
The Association of Private Builders (VPB) advises homeowners to be safe by hiring an independent building expert for the so-called final inspection of the house at least six months before the warranty period expires. An expert can often identify defects long before they cause real damage.
With material from dpa