Texas Senate 2001
(Texas Files First Home Lemon Law in the Nation)
On Feb. 16, 2001 Senator Leticia Van De Putte of San Antonio filed the first ever "Home Lemon Law", titled the "Texas Homebuyer Protection Act" SB 754 in the 77th session of the Texas State Legislature. The Bill will require the builder to buyback the home if the he cannot correct a construction defect. As with the Car Lemon Law, it has the potential of increasing the quality of homes and providing an effective complaint process. It will establish a public record and disclosure of defects in the home to potential future homebuyers.
Since the State of Texas does not license or regulate homebuilders, the Home Lemon Law will give needed relief to the consumer. It will provide basic protection for the homebuyer's investment; decrease the litigation risk for both the builder and homeowner
HomeOwners for Better Building invite you to participate in this process. Be a part of this endeavor. Help us pass this bill to protect future homebuyers. Please take a few minutes of your time and write to or email your State Senators and Representatives and join HomeOwners for Better Building.
President, HomeOwners for Better Building
2007 - First Home Lemon Law Debated in the Nation
Home Lemon Law Amendment Debated in Texas House
In an unprecedented, history-making
Representative Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, introduced a Home Lemon Law Amendment sparking a spirited debate on the Texas House floor, in which legislators defended
homeowners who have been sold defective homes by shoddy builders. The amendment was tabled by a vote of 83 to 60. However, 60 lawmakers, including 10 Republicans, had voted in support of a Home Lemon Law, the first ever to be considered or debated by any State Legislature in the nation. Read more...
UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR A HOME LEMON LAW
ARCHIVED HOME LEMON LAW NEWS
"In a proposal that could lead to a national precedent, the state's top consumer official said yesterday that new home buyers should have the same protections the Massachusetts ''lemon'' law provides for new car buyers, who can get their money back if serious flaws go unrepaired.
Home buyer advocates said that a home lemon law under consideration by the Texas Legislature is the only such proposal in the nation, and that no state has approved a law giving new home buyers the same protections as those enjoyed by car buyers." Read More..
Net-Based Consumers Fight Defective Homes
Grass roots consumer action aimed at new home defects is yielding unprecedented results -- including a landmark bill that could force builders to buy back or replace defective homes...Earlier this year, spurred by heavy lobbying from San Antonio-based HOBB.org (Homeowners For Better Building), Texas state Senator Leticia R. Van de Putte (D-Austin) introduced SB 754, also known as "The Texas Homebuyer Protection Act". What could be the nation's first lemon law for new homes -- as well as recent major media investigations of new home defects -- can all be linked to a ground swell of unresolved complaints from home owners who are joining forces on the Internet. READ MORE...
When Life Gives You Lemons...
Activists push for a law to keep homebuyers from getting squeezed
Published: Thursday, January 25, 2001
Now, these activists are going a step further in Texas, lobbying to become the first state to offer homebuyers a measure of protection against unscrupulous and incompetent builders. At long last, they want a home lemon law... Leading the fight is San Antonio's Ahmad, president of HOBB. Ahmad founded the group in the 1970s and became active in an unsuccessful effort to require city licensing of home builders. She also worked with a Federal Trade Commission investigation of the building industry that found that 75 percent of new homes had major defects. Read more...
All 50 states have Car Lemon Laws.
Know the automobile lemon laws for your state.
Automobile Lemon Law Guide Don't Get Stuck Driving a Lemon
Don't Get Stuck Living in a Builder Lemon!