Multi-Agency Taskforce Checking Jobsites for Licensing, Insurance and Safety

/images/Seal_of_California.svg.160x160.pngThe California Department of Insurance recently released a statement regarding a program to check contractors for licensing, insurance and safety. Essentially, individual cars with employees from 4 different agencies (DOI, CSLB, EDD, OSHA) are checking job sites, including individual homeowners, to confirm that the contractors working there are licensed, have insurance, are filing their payroll taxes, and are conducting their work safely. On one day at the end of August, they issued over $136,000 in fines.

Bottom line(s):

  1. Homeowners should be aware they can be held responsible for any injuries that occur on their premises, even if the injured person is an employee of the contractor.
  2. Contractors that have been avoiding the expense of insurance might want to reconsider since it looks like “going without” is going to become much more expensive.

http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/2014/release051-14.cfm

Residential Remodeling Index at New High in July 2011

BuildFax Residential Remodeling IndexThe BuildFax Residential Remodeling Index was at 130.4 in July, up from 129.5 in June. This is based on the number of properties pulling residential construction permits in a given month…This is the highest level for the index (started in 2004) – even above the levels from 2004 through 2006 during the home equity (“home ATM”) withdrawal boom.”

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