Anyone who has owned a home is likely to refer to home ownership as a bittersweet experience. Yes, being a homeowner is part of the American dream. A sense of pride comes with having afforded a house and providing a home for your family to enjoy.
Then, however, there is the reality that often sets in: a house can be a money pit. When is a house more than the predictable source of to-do lists? When is something that needs fixing in a home a potential legal issue worth pursuing? Construction defect laws can protect homeowners from the cost of certain serious complications.
Particularly in California areas such as Los Angeles and San Diego, real estate comes at a hefty cost. When such a significant investment turns out to be a lesser perhaps unsafe structure compared to what a consumer thought they were buying, they may have real estate law rights to exercise.
What kinds of defects are legal issues and covered by construction defect laws? According to FindLaw, the following are some of the common roots of construction defect cases:
- Structural problems
- Foundation cracks/instability
- Electrical problems
- Mold
- Water issues
The above construction problems can be more than expensive to fix. They can also create a dangerous living environment. Structures are required to be built to certain safety codes in California. The workers responsible for building and completing the various aspects of a structure need to abide by the construction standards. Failing to do so can land them in court and on the hook for paying damages.
The scope of damages will depend on the specific construction defect case. Has the value of the home decreased? Have the plaintiffs needed to evacuate the home and live elsewhere? Have repairs related to the alleged defect been costly? An experienced construction defects attorney will ask these questions and more to help ensure the right compensation is sought and hopefully recovered.