The Colorado House of Representatives defeated a bill that would have made it harder for condominium owners to sue builders over construction defects.
The bill had passed the state Senate. It would have reformed the state’s construction defects law by requiring a majority of homeowners in a multifamily building, rather than a majority of the homeowner association board, to decide whether to sue.
It also would have granted a right to repair to builders willing to resolve problems in an effort to avoid lawsuits.
The bill’s supporters say the high insurance costs associated with building in a state with such a law are preventing more developers from starting multifamily projects in Colorado.
Builders have also complained that the state’s existing law makes it too easy for homeowners to sue them over property defects.
Condos accounted for 3.1% of Colorado's housing starts in 2014, down from a peak of 22.9% in 2007.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Cities must invest $375 billion to avoid catastrophic global climate change
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group advocates low carbon infrastructure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 14, 2016
Resilient construction techniques pay for themselves over lifetime of buildings
Spending $340,000 for resiliency would pay for itself over the lifetime of a $10 million structure.
Codes and Standards | Dec 12, 2016
Dept. of Energy launches program to advance zero energy school design
Six school districts and two states are among the first to mainstream zero energy schools.
Codes and Standards | Dec 9, 2016
California city’s plan for net zero building includes net zero water usage
Santa Monica city services building aims for highest level of sustainability.
Codes and Standards | Dec 8, 2016
WELL and BREEAM to align standards
The goal is to make it easier for projects pursuing both standards.
Codes and Standards | Dec 7, 2016
U.S. lumber industry pushes for import duties on Canadian softwood
The industry claims the product is being sold below fair market value.
Codes and Standards | Dec 5, 2016
International Construction Measurement Standards draft released
The goal is to improve consistency for calculating costs and reducing risk.
Codes and Standards | Dec 2, 2016
D.C. Council passes bill to reduce number of blighted properties
The new legislation reduces the amount of time a vacant property can qualify for a lower tax rate.
Codes and Standards | Dec 1, 2016
Passive House standard gaining influence in commercial sector
Some industry watchers predict it will become the base building code.
Codes and Standards | Nov 30, 2016
Researchers finding solutions to bird/building collisions
Glass facades pose a serious risk to birds and cause millions of avian deaths each year.