Whether buying a new home in Arizona, remodeling an existing home, or working as a contractor in Arizona, the Arizona Registrar of Contractors is the governing board that sets and regulates the standards of workmanship for all residential construction projects in the state. RSN Law put together this article to help explain what to do if you find a construction defect or your contractor business needs to address a complaint. Here is what you need to know about Arizona Registrar of Contractors construction defect complaints.
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AROC)
If you are hiring a contractor for residential or commercial construction work of any kind, you’ll want to be familiar with the rules and regulations as promulgated and enforced by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (AROC). The AROC is the Arizona state licensing board for contractors that sets and maintains the standards for residential construction. AROC maintains some useful online tools for individuals becoming involved in a construction project that will help make sure you are hiring a licensed professional for the job. Go to the Arizona Contractor Search page where you can make sure that required contractor license is active and clear of any claims.
The AROC Complaint Process From A Consumer’s Point of View
The AROC is also an option to request an inspection or file a complaint if you have a construction issue that you feel needs to be addressed by an independent consumer agency. The AROC has a convenient online form to file a complaint, but pursuing a claim is not as easy as just filing a complaint online. The process is timely and full of roadblocks for the uninitiated. This is why it’s especially important to work with an experienced attorney that is familiar with the multiple paths that must be pursued to confirm your construction issue is addressed and the appropriate parties are held responsible.
Filing a complaint with AROC will trigger an investigation into the claim, a request that the contractor file an answer and a review of the alleged workmanship issue by a licensed state investigator. The state investigators will come to the residence to assess the severity of the workmanship claim and, if warranted, issue a corrective work order to the responsible contractor. The contractor then has a specific period of time to correct the issue and, should the contractor fail to do so, a hearing will be scheduled to enforce the AROC rules and regulations.
Defending an AROC Complaint on Behalf of Licensed Contractors
As a licensed contractor in Arizona, it is vital to your business that you handle any complaints filed with the AROC immediately. Don’t sleep on your rights! The failure to answer a complaint or respond to a corrective work order can result in a suspension or revocation of your Arizona contractor license. In order to avoid mistakes, make sure to keep up on your statutory agent information and check your license status regularly with the AROC. If a complaint is mailed or served on you, do not ignore it and contact an experienced attorney who can help. If you fail to answer or appear at a site inspection, a corrective work order may be issued which will require you to take timely action. If you fail to correct the issue to the satisfaction of the investigator, your license may be suspended or revoked by virtue of a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Contact the Experienced RSN Construction Attorneys
RSN’s experienced construction attorneys can help you properly assess a potential construction issue, reach out to any contractors, subcontractors, and vendors on your behalf, and file a claim before the AROC, if necessary. Our construction attorneys routinely review investigation reports and corrective work orders to make sure they are accurate and represent a fair representation of the issue at hand.
RSN attorneys also routinely represent various contractors and trades in the defense of allegations of construction issues before the AROC and Office of Administrative Hearings. The attorneys at RSN Law maintain connections with strong forensic investigators who can evaluate any construction allegations from an engineering and architectural perspective. Our firm can help assess whether your workmanship met the necessary standards of workmanship and whether other parties might be responsible. Contact us today at 480-712-0035 to schedule an appointment for any construction defect complaints or use our contact us page online.
RSN Law intends this article to be for informational purposes, not to be relief on a specific legal matter, and does not create an attorney-client relationship.