7
Minnesota law requires builders and remodelers to warrant that a
new home or home improvement project is free from defects for
varying lengths of me:
One year: Work must meet “building standards” that are
dened as the materials and installaon standards of the
State Building Code that is in eect at the me the work is
performed.
Two years: The plumbing, electrical, heang and cooling
systems must be free from defects caused by faulty
installaon due to noncompliance with the materials and
installaon standards of the State Building Code that is in
eect at the me the work is performed.
Ten years: Home must be free from “major construcon
defects,” that are dened as damage to the load- bearing
poron of the home that vitally aects or is imminently likely
to vitally aect use of the home for residenal purposes. It
does not include damage caused by natural disasters.
This statutory warranty is in addion to any other warranty that
may be in place. It is in eect regardless of whether it is in wring,
though state law requires licensed contractors to include it in their
contracts.
No government agency has authority to interpret or enforce
this warranty law, however. If the contractor fails to meet the
warranty, the homeowner has the right to pursue private, civil
acon to seek damages necessary to remedy the defect or to
make up the dierence between the value of the home without
the defect and the value of the home with the defect. In the
case of a home improvement project, damages are limited to the
amount necessary to remedy the defect or breach.
The warranty is limited to the previously listed items. It does
not extend, for example, to loss or damage caused by defects
in design, installaon or materials supplied by the owner, or to
damage resulng from negligence or improper maintenance by
anyone other than the contractor. Nor does the warranty cover
damage from dampness and condensaon due to insucient
venlaon aer occupancy.
A complete list of exclusions is found in Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 327A.
Warranties are required