Liens - Senate Bill 882 - Pennsylvania Mechanics Lien Law - Updated 2009 - THP

[administrator]

As liens continue (!) to grow and get filed and perfected...

It makes a lot of sense to continue getting word out about a particular bill that a member of the site has helped spearhead offline with state reps and others.

It is bill 882 :

Regular Session 2009-2010 Senate Bill 882 P.N. 1052

It will unfortunately do little immediate good for those of us already served perfected liens HOWEVER, along with the relation to T.H. Properties, it should be helpful to anyone's case.

[administrator]

To try to explain the relevance, in a nutshell, it is a new wording that is looking to protect the interests of a homebuyer from the EXACT position that THP has left its recent settlers in.

In the event the contractor is paid in full, then liens can not be placed by the subcontractor against the homeowner (without express consent in form of a waiver.)

Unfortunately, this wording does not exist today but as demonstrated by the bill, it is in the works.

[Burbank Grove]

Thanks for the support admin I originally was so upset abbot the THP issue that I just started to reach to any one who would listen. Thinking that I would not get a response from local and state level government I reach out to both my state rep and senator. Both responded to me immediately. Please everyone on this site reach out to your stat rep as well as your senator reference senate bill 882 and ask them to support it in both in the house and the senate. Like admin said it might not help the people who are currently going through the liean issues but if we can prevent others from this type of situation it will be worth it. The point is we can all make a difference and be part of changing a ridicules law that was written in the 60's........Thanks for your support.

[administrator]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly

Based on this :

Last Action: Third consideration and final passage, Aug. 4, 2009 (197-0) [House]

It looks like it is on its way to the governor's office.

Thanks to all the reps involved.

Now, perhaps other people won't have to be in the same position TH(P) has left it's customers in.

While it doesn't change much for the THP customers that THP continues to leave out in the cold in respect to at least the liens filed against homeowners, hopefully it will help others.

[Burbank Grove2]

I will tell you that it should be called THE SIMPSON BILL, as my husband has been working on this since the day we pratically moved into this mess. I also thank Mike Vereb for stepping up to the plate and getting this moved forward.
This is the only way to get things down is to push forward until you get what you want. We all have to keep the fight. THEY will not win. There is a saying "What goes around, comes around". Believe me it's coming.

[administrator]

The reason the other bill was a bit puzzling, but still a step in the right direction is it is not the ultimate cut and dry case that is still being worked through the system. It is yet another bill in the process to amend a somewhat antiquated view on mechanics lien law.

Looking at this other additional previously mentioned bill, it took about four months to get to the point it is at.

The continued fight for SB882 which provides clear language for the EXACT reason myself and MANY other THP homeowners are getting liens for bills that THP did not pay - even though the homeowners paid in full, in good faith is the following :

The Pennsylvania General Assembly

On the second page of the PDF, you can find the very clear language discussing the terms.