HB1265: Mechanics' lien' notice; claimant must send to property owner 30 days before filing.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 43-4.01 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 43-4.01. Posting of building permit; identification of mechanics' lien agent in building permit; notice to mechanics' lien agent; effect of notice.
A. The building permit for any one- or two-family residential dwelling unit issued pursuant to the Uniform Statewide Building Code shall be conspicuously and continuously posted on the property for which the permit is issued until all work is completed on the property. The permit shall be posted on the property before any labor is performed or any material furnished on the property for which the building permit is issued. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a permit being amended after it has been initially issued to name a mechanics' lien agent or a new mechanics' lien agent.
B. 1. If the The building permit
contains for any one- or two-family residential dwelling unit shall
contain the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the mechanics'
lien agent as defined in § 43-1, any if one is designated. If no
mechanics' lien agent is designated, the permit shall contain the name and
mailing address of the owner as defined in § 43-1.
2. Any person entitled to claim a lien under this title
may notify the mechanics' lien agent then named on the permit or amended permit
that he seeks payment for labor performed or material furnished by registered
or certified mail or by physical delivery. Such notice shall contain (i) the
name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person sending such notice,
(ii) the building permit number on the building permit, (iii) a description of
the property as shown on the building permit, and (iv) a statement that the
person filing such notice seeks payment for labor performed or material
furnished. A return receipt or other receipt showing delivery of the notice
to the addressee or written evidence that such notice was delivered by the
postal service or other carrier to but not accepted by the addressee shall be
prima facie evidence of receipt. An inaccuracy in the notice as to the
description of the property shall not bar a person from claiming a lien under
this title or filing a memorandum or otherwise perfecting or enforcing a lien
as provided in subsection C if the property can otherwise be reasonably
identified from the description.
3. Any person intending to perfect a lien under this title against a one- or two-family residential dwelling unit shall notify the mechanics' lien agent or, if no mechanics' lien agent has been designated, the owner at least 30 days prior to filing a memorandum of lien. Such notice shall be addressed to the mechanics' lien agent, if designated, named on the permit or amended permit, or addressed to the owner at the address listed on the building permit. Such notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail and shall contain (i) the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the person sending such notice, (ii) the building permit number on the building permit, (iii) a description of the property as shown on the building permit, (iv) a statement that the person sending such notice intends to file a lien on the property, and (v) the amount for which the person sending such notice intends to file a memorandum of lien.
4. A return receipt or other receipt showing delivery of the notice to the mechanics' lien agent or owner, or written evidence that such notice was delivered by the postal service or other carrier to but not accepted by the addressee, shall be prima facie evidence of receipt. An inaccuracy in the notice as to the description of the property or the amount of the lien shall not bar a person from claiming a lien under this title or filing a memorandum or otherwise perfecting or enforcing a lien as provided in this section if the property can otherwise be reasonably identified from the description.
5. In the event that the mechanics' lien agent dies, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable or unwilling to serve during the construction period, the owner or the general contractor shall immediately appoint a successor mechanics' lien agent with all the rights, duties, and obligations of the predecessor mechanics' lien agent. An amended permit shall be displayed as provided in subsection A. Until such time as the successor is named and displayed as provided, notice given hereunder to the predecessor mechanics' lien agent at the address shown shall be deemed good notice, notwithstanding the fact that the agent may have died, resigned or become otherwise unable or unwilling to serve.
C. Except as provided otherwise in this subsection, no person
other than a person claiming a lien under subsection B of § 43-3 may claim a
lien under this title or file a memorandum or otherwise perfect and enforce a
lien under this title with respect to a one or two family residential dwelling
unit if such person fails to notify any mechanics' lien agent identified on the
building permit in accordance with subsection B above subdivision B 2
(i) within thirty 30 days of the first date that he performs
labor or furnishes material to or for the building or structure or (ii) within
thirty 30 days of the date such a permit is issued, if such labor or
materials are first performed or furnished by such person prior to the issuance
of a building permit. However, the failure to give any such notices within the
appropriate thirty-day 30-day period as required by the previous
sentence shall not bar a person from claiming a lien under this title or from
filing a memorandum or otherwise perfecting and enforcing a lien under this
title, provided that such lien is limited to labor performed or materials
furnished on or after the date a notice is given by such person to the
mechanics' lien agent in accordance with subsection B above
subdivision B 2. A person performing labor or furnishing materials with
respect to a one or two family residential dwelling unit on which a building
permit is not posted at the time he first performs his labor or first furnishes
his material or, if posted, does not state the name of the mechanics' lien
agent, shall determine from appropriate authorities whether a permit of the
type described in subsection B above has been issued, the date on which it is
issued, and the name of the mechanics' lien agent, if any, that has been
appointed. The issuing authority shall maintain the mechanics' lien agent
and owner information in the same manner and in the same location in which
it maintains its record of building permits issued.
No person shall be required to comply with this subsection as to any memorandum of lien which is recorded prior to the issuance of a building permit nor shall any person be required to comply with this subsection when the building permit does not designate a mechanics' lien agent.
D. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the only duties of the mechanics' lien agent shall be to receive notices delivered to him pursuant to subsection B and to provide any notice to the owner of the property and upon request to a settlement agent, as defined in § 55-525.8, involved in a transaction relating to the residential dwelling unit.
E. Mechanics' lien agents are authorized to enter into written agreements with third parties with regard to funds to be advanced to them for disbursement, and the transfer, disbursement, return and other handling of such funds shall be governed by the terms of such written agreements.
F. A mechanics' lien agent as defined in § 43-1 may charge a reasonable fee for services rendered in connection with administration of notice authorized herein and the disbursement of funds for payment of labor and materials for the construction or repair of improvements on real estate.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 43-4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 43-4. Perfection of lien by general contractor; recordation and notice.
A general contractor, or any other lien claimant under §§ 43-7 and 43-9, in order to perfect the lien given by § 43-3, provided such lien has not been barred by § 43-4.01 C, shall file a memorandum of lien at any time after the work is commenced or material furnished, but not later than 90 days from the last day of the month in which he last performs labor or furnishes material, and in no event later than 90 days from the time such building, structure, or railroad is completed, or the work thereon otherwise terminated. The memorandum shall be filed in the clerk's office in the county or city in which the building, structure or railroad, or any part thereof is located. The memorandum shall show the names of the owner of the property sought to be charged, and of the claimant of the lien, the amount and consideration of his claim, and the time or times when the same is or will be due and payable, verified by the oath of the claimant, or his agent, including a statement declaring his intention to claim the benefit of the lien, and giving a brief description of the property on which he claims a lien. It shall be the duty of the clerk in whose office the memorandum is filed to record and index the same as provided in § 43-4.1, in the name of the claimant of the lien and of the owner of the property. From the time of such recording and indexing all persons shall be deemed to have notice thereof. A lien claimant who is a general contractor, and not lien claimants under §§ 43-7 and 43-9, also shall file along with the memorandum of lien, a certification of mailing of a copy of the memorandum of lien on the owner of the property at the owner's last known address. The cost of recording the memorandum shall be taxed against the person found liable in any judgment or decree enforcing such lien. The lien claimant may file any number of memoranda but no memorandum filed pursuant to this chapter shall include sums due for labor or materials furnished more than 150 days prior to the last day on which labor was performed or material furnished to the job preceding the filing of such memorandum. However, any memorandum may include (i) sums withheld as retainages with respect to labor performed or materials furnished at any time before it is filed, but not to exceed 10 percent of the total contract price and (ii) sums which are not yet due because the party with whom the lien claimant contracted has not yet received such funds from the owner or another third party. The time limitations set forth herein shall apply to all labor performed or materials furnished on construction commenced on or after July 1, 1980.
At least 60 days prior to filing a memorandum of lien pursuant to this section, a lien claimant shall send a copy of the memorandum and written notice of the lien claimant's intention to file the memorandum by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner of the property at the owner's last known address. After the expiration of this 60-day period, the lien claimant may file a memorandum of lien. The lien claimant shall also file with the clerk a copy of the written notice sent to the property owner and certify that such notice was sent. The clerk shall not accept or record any memorandum of lien filed prior to the expiration of this 60-day period or that is not accompanied by a copy of the notice sent to the property owner.