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Ohio Changes Home Improvement Dispute Law
T
he Ohio Legislature recently changed a 12-year-old law applicable to home construction services. The original version only applied to contracts for new construction (or ancillary construction to the new construction, such as a garage being built along with a house) for more than $25,000.
MARK RODIO
Now, contracts for repair, renovation, remodeling or improvements including residential landscaping or hardscaping improvement contracts greater than $25,000 will also be covered by the law.
Changes to the HCSSA
The changes to the law were enacted by House Bill 50 (H.B. 50), which was signed by Gov. DeWine on June 21, 2024, and became effective September 19, 2024. H.B. 50 amends the Home Construction Service Suppliers Act (HCSSA) definition to include repair, improvement, remodel or renovation of an existing structure. R.C. 4722.01 now will provide: (B) “Home construction service” means the construction of a residential building, including the creation of a new structure and the repair, improve-
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ment, remodel, or renovation of an existing structure. “Home construction service” does not include construction performed on a structure that contains four or more dwelling units, except for work on an individual dwelling unit within that structure, or construction performed on the common area of a condominium property. (C) “Home construction service contract” means a contract between an owner and a supplier to perform home construction services, including services rendered based on a cost-plus contract, for an amount exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars. The contract still has to be greater than $25,000 and the contractor still has to carry liability insurance of at least $250,000 in order to be covered by the
Properties | March 2025