FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    Oct. 1, 2008

COUNTY CONTINUES  CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL HOME IMPROVEMENT BUSINESSES

Latest enforcement sweep nets 23 unlicensed contractors

            Twenty-three home improvement contractors have been charged with operating a business without a license in a two-week enforcement sweep by the county Department of Consumer Protection. The contractors face fines ranging from $1,000 for a first violation  and up to $10,000 for a third violation.

The department also used the county’s new Seizure/Impound law to seize the vehicle and tools of one  contractor who continued to operate without a license despite having been cited during a sweep in June. The contractor, Agustin Chavez Landscaping of New Rochelle, was fined $4,500. He has since applied for a license.

            “We continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal home improvement contractors,” said County Executive Andy Spano.  “Our ongoing enforcement efforts show that we mean business.”

            Home improvement complaints have ranked as the top consumer complaint in Westchester for the past several years. While hiring a licensed contractor is no guarantee of satisfaction, many of the most serious complaints –  involving shoddy work or failure to perform any work at all –  involve unlicensed contractors.

            During the sweep, field inspectors conducted 273 inspections of  home improvement contractors at worksites throughout the county. Of those, 23 contractors did not have a license. Significantly,  the percentage of unlicensed contractors found by inspectors (8.4 percent)  dropped sharply from prior sweeps in June 2008 and July 2007, when 17 percent  were found to be working in the county were unlicensed.

            “The results of this sweep show that our enforcement efforts –  buttressed by new laws that dramatically increase the penalties for repeat violators and authorize the seizure/impound of vehicles and tools – are making a difference,” said Gary Brown, director of Consumer Protection. “Contractors are getting the message: get a license or get out of Westchester.”

A new county law increases the civil penalty for unlicensed contractors who are repeat violators. The penalty for a first violation is $1,000. This can increase to $5,000 for a second violation within five years and $10,000 for a third and subsequent violations within 10 years. Unlicensed contractors can also face criminal charges.     

            All home improvement contractors –  including roofers, driveway pavers, landscapers, tile setters, chimney sweeps, fence installers, exterior painters, masons and persons who install or repair exterior siding, decks, windows, doors and swimming pools –  must be licensed by the Department of Consumer Protection.

            To qualify for a license, contractors must pass a background check, have adequate insurance and supply proof of financial responsibility.  Any history of unresolved complaints is also considered.   In addition, effective July 1^st, first-time applicants for a home improvement license must take and pass a written exam covering basic laws and rules that apply to home improvement contractors.   There are currently an all-time high of over 7,300 licensed contractors in Westchester.

            The county offered these tips for hiring a home improvement contractor:

· Avoid unlicensed contractors.  To find out if a contractor is licensed you can check online at www.westchestergov.com/consumer or by telephone at 914-995-2155.  You can also check to see whether there have been complaints against the contractor.

· Avoid contractors who show up at your doorstep unannounced or contact you through telemarketing. 

· Avoid transient contractors who only have a P.O. box address or a cell phone number.

· Avoid contractors who demand payment in cash or want more than one-third of the total payment before work has begun.

· Get at least three estimates, especially if the job is big.  In assessing the estimates, don’t always go with the low bidder.  A higher price may be worth it if the contractor is the most experienced, will use better materials, will do a better job, and keep to a timeline.

· Be wary of an extremely low bid.  It may be an indication that  the contractor is overeager for your business, made a mistake in preparing the bid or is not including all the work quoted by the other bidders. 

· Ask each contractor for references, and call the references to see if they were satisfied with the work.  Also, see for yourself by visiting the homes where the contractor has done work.

· Once you’ve decided on a contractor, insist on a written contract that sets forth all important details of the job.  Do NOT agree to an oral contract.

· If you have a problem, you don’t have to fight it alone.  The Department of Consumer Protection can help.

            Further information on hiring a contractor, including a brochure and video with useful tips, can be found on www.westchestergov.com.