Addressing construction defect disputes involving multiunit residential buildings.
Summary
Requires course-of-construction inspections of the building enclosures of multi-unit residential buildings, including condominiums, specifically for water penetration around windows and more generally for compliance with the building's design documents;
Requires intrusive inspections, and in some cases repairs, whenever a building is converted to a condominium;
Allows any party in a condominium warranty dispute to demand arbitration after a lawsuit has been filed;
Requires mediation and allows the use of neutral experts in all condominium warranty disputes, whether in a trial or arbitration;
Allows any party in such a condominium dispute to make an offer of judgment which may result in the award of reasonable attorney fees to one party or the other depending on the ultimate outcome of the dispute in arbitration or trial; and
Provides for a trial de novo upon appeal of an arbitration award in any condominium warranty dispute and for the allocation of fees and costs in the arbitration or trial.
From the House Bill Report (HB 1848), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗