Perhaps you moved into a new-build home a year ago, and you've learned that your foundation is unstable, or maybe you hired a contractor to redo your master bathroom, and now you are experiencing electrical problems. No matter the type of construction issue you are having, you should review the circumstances with a skilled South Carolina construction attorney from Hayes Law by calling (843) 805-7003 or contacting us online.
Construction defects can not only decrease your home’s value, but it can also be a safety hazard and an eyesore. In some cases, these defects lead to additional problems and more damage to the home. Construction defects and contractor disputes are frustrating and time-consuming to deal with, but by hiring a lawyer to stand up for your rights, you can relieve yourself of this hassle and be assured that someone is pursuing justice and enforcement of the laws on your behalf.
Your Rights
As a home or property owner, you have rights when it comes to the work and construction performed for you. You have the right to expect that your contractor or home builder will fulfill the obligations of their contracts. You also have the right to hire a South Carolina construction lawyer to review any contracts you have and pursue whatever legal action is available to you. Keep in mind that for residential construction in South Carolina, the builder has an automatic 30 days after reporting any problems or defects to either fix the problem or to offer you a settlement.
Time is of the Essence
Although homeowners have rights, you have a limited amount of time to assert them under various statutes of limitation. The amount of time you have to file a claim depends on the type of case you have. Some claims arising from construction and home building issues must be brought within three years. In less common cases, you may have up to eight years.
If your case arose out of a defective or unsafe condition of an improvement to real property, it might be brought no more than eight years after substantial completion of the improvement as per the statute of repose found in S.C. Code Ann. Section 15-3-640. This law also allows ten years to sue architects or engineers.
However, if your claim is for breach of contract, there is a three-year statute of limitations as per S.C. Code § 15-3-520. This means that claims based on a contract with the builder must be brought within this period, or they are barred. For property damage caused by basic negligence, the statute of limitations is also three years.
Let a South Carolina Construction Lawyer Protect Your Rights
Construction laws, along with their statutes of limitation and repose, can be quite confusing to homeowners in South Carolina. If you are wondering whether you can still file a claim, it is best to present your claims to a South Carolina construction attorney so that they can determine if your statute of limitations or statute of repose has expired.
If you doubt work that has been done in your home or that a builder or contractor did what they agreed to do in a contract with you, now is the time to schedule a consultation with Hayes Law. Call (843) 805-7003 today or contact us online. Remember that you only have a limited amount of time to assert your rights, so the sooner you reach out, the better.