What Deadlines Must You Meet for Construction Liens?
We all want to be paid for the work that we do. If you play a role in any big construction or remodeling project, you should be fairly compensated. When the property owner holds out on you, filing construction liens is an option. Our Houston construction lien lawyers can tell you more about how these work and what kind of process needs to be filed.
What Are Texas Construction Liens?
Construction liens can be filed when you are owed money for work on a property. Did you perform labor? Did you provide materials? If you performed any service and you are owed money, filing a lien can help you recover payment from a property owner.
These liens are hard to ignore because they make it difficult for someone to sell or refinance the property. Let’s say you helped out with the construction on someone’s home. You redid old rooms, added a new sunroom, and performed all types of work that you did not get paid for. If the owner’s plans were to flip the house, they are going have a problem. That lien you filed against them will make a property hard to sell, so they are going to have to pay you if they want to make any kind of profit.
When Should I File Construction Liens?
Companies and contractors can file construction liens whenever they have not been paid for their work. As we mentioned, anyone working on a project could have the right to file liens on the property. You may be able to ask for one if you are:
- Any kind of contractor
- A designer
- An engineer
- A surveyor
- Running a company that rents out equipment
- Supplying materials
- An architect
Do not think that your work was not a big deal or that you do not need to be compensated for your contribution to a project.
What Deadlines Should I Know About?
Unfortunately, it can be easy for people to miss out on their chance to file construction liens due to the state’s strict deadlines. If you want to file a lien, you must:
- Invoice for your work before the 15th day of the second month after performing the work
- Send a pre-lien notice letter within 30 days of sending the invoice
- File your lien by the deadline
This last deadline can vary depending on whether you were a contractor or a subcontractor. You also may not need to legally send a pre-lien notice. This can be confusing, which is why we recommend talking to an attorney as soon as it looks like you are going to struggle to recover compensation from a customer.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Team
If you want to learn more about how these liens work and what your legal options are when someone does not pay you for your work, contact Patout & Shaw. We can answer your questions and tell you more about how our attorneys can be of assistance.
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