New Contract Disclosure Law Means New, Longer Contracts!

Glenn M. Gottlieb
(2006)

If you hold a contractors license and work on any residential property, whether with the homeowner, building owner or a tenant, extensive new disclosures became mandatory under California law on January 1, 2006.

These new requirements apply right now if the project involves more than $500, and you work on:

Fire systems under a C-10 license
Low voltage C-7 (non-ACO) installations, such as cameras, CCTV, access or gate control, home entertainment or intercom systems
Fire sprinkler or other systems (other than electrical alarms) under a C-16 license

Remember: even if you install only one smoke detector in a home or apartment, you are installing a “fire system” and must have a C-10 license in addition to your ACO.

If you fit in any of these categories (or any other contractor classification), then you need to have your contracts completely redone immediately in order to be in compliance with the new law.

For example, it was formerly possible, with a little creative drafting, to use the same contract form for both residential and commercial/industrial customers. That isn’t feasible under the new law. Among the new disclosures is a requirement that the heading, “Home Improvement,” be included prominently on the contract. Obviously you are not going to use the same form for your commercial or industrial clients.

Other mandatory requirements involving type size (10-point type is now a minimum, with headings in 10-point bold type; some disclosures must be in larger, 12-point bold type), will almost certainly mean most contracts will no longer fit on the front and back of one page, even if you formerly used the longer 14-inch paper.

Along with the disclosure requirements for the contract itself, the former “Notice to Owner” form has been replaced by a new “Mechanics Lien Warning” which must be delivered to the client, along with the Notice of Cancellation (three-day right of rescission notice), a commercial general liability insurance disclosure, workers’ compensation insurance disclosure and information regarding the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Some of these may either be included on the contract form itself or in a separate attachment.

There are also significant changes that have become mandatory for service tickets or work orders on any residential property for work involving less than $750.00.
Obviously, the new disclosure requirements are complicated. You will need to consult with a qualified attorney, and print all new contract forms, to remain in legal compliance.
I would be pleased to speak with you about my LOW FIXED RATES (no open-ended commitments; no unlimited hourly fees).

CALL NOW for a FREE, no obligation consultation!

Click here to open this article in PDF format to save, download or print. >>