Sue a construction contractor
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Learn about your options if a contractor didn’t finish the work you hired them to do on your home or did poor or negligent work.
Beware of high-pressure door-to-door sales for expensive work on your home.
Never sign anything you don’t fully understand and agree to. It’s harder to undo a contract than to just say no.
If a contractor pressures you to sign a contract or pay quickly, federal law lets you cancel the sale in writing within 3 business days. Send written notice that you’re canceling within 3 business days by certified mail. Keep a copy and proof of delivery. Your contract may include a form or instructions for where to send your cancellation.
If you hire a contractor for home repairs or remodeling and they do not complete the job, or do the work poorly, you have options. Learn about some common problems with contractors.
If your contractor was unregistered or fraudulent, you can report them to L&I.
All construction contractors who are registered with the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) must pay a bonding company some amount (must be bonded). Use L&I’s Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business tool to check for safety violations and past lawsuits against their bond.
You may be able to settle the matter without going to court. With contracts for sale, construction, or substantial remodel, the contractor has the right to offer in writing to fix any construction-related defects.
Before you file a lawsuit against the contractor, write a demand letter with a list of your complaints and needs, with a deadline to respond.
You can also try going to mediation to avoid court. L&I has more information about and resources for mediating problems with your construction project.
If your demand letter and mediation don’t resolve the issue, you may file a suit against the contractor’s bond in the Superior Court where the work was done. L&I has more information about what to do if you want to file suit against your construction contractor and specific information about filing suit against an electrical contractor.
After you sue the contractor, you may also be eligible for L&I’s Homeowner Recovery Fund to recover up to $25,000, depending on available funds, to cover your losses from incomplete, inferior, or negligent work.