Home Improvement Regulations in NYC, Exams of Advanced Education

Download Home Improvement Regulations in NYC and more Exams Advanced Education in PDF only on Docsity! NYC Home Improvement EXAM-with 100% verified solutions DOB Department of Buildings DCA Department of Consumer Affairs DOT Department of Transportation What is home improvement? The construction,repair, replacement, remodleing, alteration, comversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or addition to any land or building or any part of the land or building used or designed to be used as a residence or dwelling place, including basements, driveways, fences, garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces. What does home improvement include? -Central heating/air conditioning - Central vacuum cleaning system -Storm windows -Awnings -Communication systems What is NOT home improvement? -Construction of a new home or building - Sale of goods or materials in connection with the installation of or application of goods or materials -Work performed on a residence owned or controlled by the state or municipality - Painting or decoration of a building, residence, home, or apartment, when not related to home improvement work Who is a "salesperson"? A salesperson is someone who negotiates a home improvement contract with a consumer or tenant, or solicits a home improvement contract from an owner or tenant. Who is a contractor? A contractor is anyone who owns, operates, maintains, conducts, controls, or transacts a home improvement business and undertakes or agrees to perform any home improvement, whether or not the contractor is a prime contractor or subcontractor with respect to the owner. What is a home improvement contract? A "home improvement contract" is an agreement, whether or not in writing, between a contractor and a consumer or tenant for performance of a home improvement and includes all labor, services, and materials to be furnished and performed. Who must have a DCA license? Any person who solicits, canvasses, sells, performs, or obtains a home improvement contract as a contractor or salesperson must have a DCA license. Where must I post my HIC license? You must post your license in your office where all consumers can see it or show it to consumers upon request. Within how many days must you notify DCA of any change? Within 10 days. How does a person Obtain a license or renew a license? You must submit an application to DCA for a new or renewed license a separate home- improvement contractor license is required for each place of business. Must a contractor furnish a consumer with a written estimate? Yes if the consumer request one you can charge a fee for the estimate but you must disclose the fee to the consumer before you provide the estimate and you must include an itemize the fee in the total estimated contract price What are the penalties for false or fraudulent representation? A contractor or sales person who lies is a subject to fines of up to 500 dollars for each separate misrepresentation in addition a contract entered into after misrepresentation are made may be declared Noll and void and a contractor may be ordered to pay restitution to the consumer What are the penalties for operating a home improvement business without a license? Must a subcontractor be licensed by DCA Yes. A subcontractor as opposed to an employee of a general contractor, must have a DCA license to perform home improvement work in New York City What are some of your Obligations with regard to employees? you must cover employees with workers' Compensation and disability insurance. Must report employee wages to the internal Revenue Service, and you must withhold taxes. What is an additional obligation with regard to employees? You must comply with the Federal Immigration laws, which require employers to ensure that employees have legal authority to work in the united States. Can a contractor elect to secure a bond or participate in DCA's Home improvement Trust Fund? Yes. A contracor can either secure a bond or contribute to DCA's home Imporovement Trust Fund Every Two Years What is needed to paint the exterior of a house with more than one story? You may require a suspended scaffold and a rigging permit from DOB to paint the exterior of a home that is one story or more, unless you can use a ladder to do the job. You must contact DOB for more information before beginning this work. Whose responsibility is it to obtain an amended Certificate of Occupancy? If an amended Certificate of Occupancy is needed, it is the contractor's responsibility to obtain it for the consumer. A registered architect or professional engineer must file the actual amended Certificate of Occupancy at DOB. Is it necessary for a home improvement contractor to hire a licensed electrician to do certain types of work? You must use a licensed electrician to install anything having to do with light, heat, and power, regardless of voltage. How must a contractor handle sales tax? Contractors must collect sales tax for repairs from the consumer and pay it. What type of work qualifies as a capital improvement? Adding a bathroom to a home is an example of a capital improvement. What type of work does not qualify as capital improvement Repairs such as repairing a window frame or painting the living room do not When adding an extension to a home, what is the first thing a contractor should do before beginning work? The first thing a contractor should do before beginning work on a home is to consult with a licensed architect or engineer—not DOB—to determine if the owner can put in the extension and still comply with the applicable zoning law. Where does a contractor go to secure a permit for a dumpster that is placed on the street? A Contractor should contact the DOT for a dumpster permit. Does a home improvement contractor need a permit to perform sidewalk work? Yes. Sidewalk work requires a permit from DOT. Call 311 What should a contractor do to haul or transport waste resulting from home improvement work? If you plan to haul or transport waste resulting from your business operations, you must obtain a Class One Self Hauler Registration from the New York City Business Integrity Commission.