• (904) 355-7000
  • Mon – Fri 8:30AM – 5:30 PM
  • contact@heekinlaw.com
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About
    • Our Team
    • Careers
    • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Appellate Law
    • Business Law
      • Business Disputes
      • Business Formation
      • Contract Disputes
      • Creditors’ Rights
      • FDUTPA
      • Franchise Law
      • Non-Compete Agreements
      • Shareholder Disputes
    • Construction Law
      • Construction Agreements
      • Construction Defects
      • Construction Liens
      • Licensing
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Pre-Need Guardian
      • Living Will
      • Pet Trusts
      • Trusts
      • Powers of Attorney
      • Wills
    • Family Law
    • Homeowner, Condo & Commercial Associations
    • Probate
    • Real Estate Law
      • Disputes
        • Boundary Disputes
        • Covenant Disputes Enforcement
        • Landlord Tenant Disputes
      • Closings
        • Commercial Closings
        • Residential Closings
        • Reverse Mortgage Closings
        • Mortgage, Refinance and Equity Line Closings
      • Builder and Developer Representation
      • Foreclosure Defense
      • Short Sales
      • Title
        • Real Property Title Search and Examination
        • Title Problem/Defect Resolution
        • Title Insurance
      • For Sale By Owner
      • Deed Preparation
    • Guardianships
  • Contact
Make an appointment

Start With a Free* Consultation – (904) 355-7000

Paying For a Licensed Contractor Worth the Extra Cash

10/24/2016
Attorney  ·  Lawyer

In order to do building work on a person’s home or business, most contractors are legally required to have a license. According to a recent Miami Herald article, in Florida, the regulation of the construction industry is determined by Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes. This governs the licensure of categories of contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Construction Industry Licensing Board. Local governments also have additional licensing requirements. However, that doesn’t mean that every contractor that is hired has the required licenses.

Why Unlicensed Work is Done

In the last couple years there has been a surge of both home and business owners who have bypassed licensed contractors in favor of the cheaper, unlicensed, variety. In some cases, unlicensed contractors have downplayed their lack of licenses in order to try to bring in customers at cheaper rates than licensed contractors who pay licensing fees. Since unlicensed contractors are not able to get the proper permits, those who use them take a big risk, especially when the work does not meet Florida Building Code standards. Many are discovering they get what they pay for. Some of the problems that those with unlicensed modifications experience include:

  • The voiding of product warranties for plumbing or appliances that are improperly installed
  • Difficulty selling a property that has unlicensed modifications
  • The denial of insurance coverage for improperly installed plumbing or appliances
  • Unlicensed modifications often need to be torn down completely and redone from scratch
  • No ability to pursue compensation through Florida Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund

How to Fight Back From Shoddy Work

While there are better protections in place when a license contractor fails to provide quality work, those who are facing the mistakes of unlicensed contractors are not entirely without recourse. For one, unlicensed contractors are not able to take advantage of the Florida lien law, which allows contractors to put a lien on property to assure payment for their work.

In addition, Florida law also states that unlicensed contractors that are not in pursuit of complying with proper licensing requirements can be asked to not only award damages to a customer who is injured as a result of their poor work, but may also be asked to pay attorney’s fees as well. Unlicensed contractors do not have the same rights to sue the property owner, and in some cases they may even be subject to civil and criminal penalties for working without a license.

While it’s always best to double check that a contractor has all the required licenses before they begin a job, there is help for those who discover errors in a contractor’s work whether they are licensed or not. An experienced lawyer can help you discover your rights and fight to get the compensation you need to rebuild.


Leave A Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

3 Signs your house has mold damage
Previous Article
Rent disputes with tenants
Next Article

Office Locations

  • Jacksonville: 7220 Financial Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256
  • Fernandina: 960185 Gateway Boulevard, Unit 109, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
  • Clearwater: 1600 West Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33770
  • Palm Beach: 800 Village Square Crossing, Suite 303, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

    Nocatee: 360 Town Plaza Avenue Ste. 340 Ponte Vedra, FL 32081
  • Miami: 6100 Blue Lagoon Dr. Suite 305, Miami, FL 33126

*Free consultations are limited to 15 minutes and provided as a courtesy. We recognize that there are certain matters where 15 minutes is inadequate in order to gather all of the information needed, and as such, consultations for estate planning and family law matters are not free. Please call our office to inquire further.

Helpful Links

  • News & Insight
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Contact

Facebook Linkedin Youtube Instagram
(904) 355-7000
contact@heekinlaw.com
Representation customized to fit your needs.

Helpful Links

  • Guardianship Services
  • News & Insight
  • Contact Us
  • Online Bill Pay

Business Law

  • Business Disputes
  • Business Formation
  • Creditors Rights
  • Contract Disputes
  • FDUTPA
  • Franchise Law
  • Non-Compete Agreements
  • Civil RICO
  • Shareholder Disputes

Estate Services

  • Estate Planning
  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Guardianship
  • Probate
  • Pet Trusts
  • Pre-Need Guardian
  • Estate Planning Checkup

Real Estate Law

  • Boundary Disputes
  • Covenant Disputes
  • Residential Closings
  • Foreclosure Defense
  • Short Sales
  • For Sale By Owner
  • Quitclaim Deed Preparation
  • Mortgage, Refinance
  • Real Property Title

Contact

Facebook Twitter Linkedin
(904) 355-7000
david@heekinlaw.com
© Copyright 2024 | Heekin Law PA. All Rights Reserved
Website Design by Kris Chislett Design
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About
    • Our Team
    • Careers
    • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Appellate Law
    • Business Law
      • Business Disputes
      • Business Formation
      • Contract Disputes
      • Creditors’ Rights
      • FDUTPA
      • Franchise Law
      • Non-Compete Agreements
      • Shareholder Disputes
    • Construction Law
      • Construction Agreements
      • Construction Defects
      • Construction Liens
      • Licensing
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Pre-Need Guardian
      • Living Will
      • Pet Trusts
      • Trusts
      • Powers of Attorney
      • Wills
    • Family Law
    • Homeowner, Condo & Commercial Associations
    • Probate
    • Real Estate Law
      • Disputes
        • Boundary Disputes
        • Covenant Disputes Enforcement
        • Landlord Tenant Disputes
      • Closings
        • Commercial Closings
        • Residential Closings
        • Reverse Mortgage Closings
        • Mortgage, Refinance and Equity Line Closings
      • Builder and Developer Representation
      • Foreclosure Defense
      • Short Sales
      • Title
        • Real Property Title Search and Examination
        • Title Problem/Defect Resolution
        • Title Insurance
      • For Sale By Owner
      • Deed Preparation
    • Guardianships
  • Contact

Make an appointment

Appointment Date & Time