New home builders in Oregon must now give buyers of new residences only, a maintenance schedule, that puts groundwater issues at the forefront of the conversation and mandate.
Beginning with contracts signed on or after July 1, 2008, contractors that build new residential structures are required to provide a recommended maintenance schedule to the owner, or the first purchaser, of the structure.
The Construction Contractors Board, the Oregon (CCB) was mandated to adopt rules that specify minimum information, and a maintenance schedule that must include the following. By law, a maintenance schedule is required to contain the following:
1. Definitions and descriptions of moisture intrusion and water damage.
2. An explanation of how moisture intrusion and water damage can occur.
3. A description and recommended schedule for maintenance to prevent moisture intrusion.
4. Advice on how to recognize the signs of water damage.
5. Appropriate steps to take when water damage is discovered.
The CCB must make the information available at no charge to contractors that construct new residential structures. Meetings have been held for stakeholder input. The information is currently being researched, and a work group is being formed.
Contractors must include an acknowledgment of the owner’s, or first purchaser’s, receipt of the maintenance schedule, as part of the written contract.
Information will be updated on the CCB website as it becomes available. Check the Oregon Contractors Board website for updated information, or call them to get information on this new home builder requirement, and how homeowners are impacted by it.
See additional articles on the above subject within this website in the future, and in the past, leading up to this new law.
This company recommends future Oregon legislature mandated disclosures, with respect to the above issues, that would pertain to existing residential structures as well as new homes, and address home seller penalty for non-disclosure of home drainage problems to home buyers. There is a lot more trouble in old homes, with respect to home drainage, than new homes. The problem really is in the non-disclosure of homes through seller fraud and lender fraud, all going down without the knowledge of the home buyers.
This is a reprinted article that was originally written on April 23, 08. New information and forms on this sublect can be found by calling the CCB, or going to their web site.