MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW IN MARYLAND

Mechanics’ Lien Law Overview: What is a Mechanic’s Lien in Maryland and How Does it Work?

A Mechanic’s lien law claim in Maryland is a legal remedy used by contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers to get paid for construction labor and materials provided or supplied at a construction project. When timely action is taken by a mechanics’ lien law attorney,  the owner’s land owner’s where the construction project is located can have a lien placed on it to satisfy a monetary debt owed to a contractor, subcontractor or material supplier. Such a lien is known as a “Mechanics’ Lien” in Maryland and can be establish by a mechanics’ lien law attorney, even though the owner is not the actual party that owes the money, and even though he owner has no contractual relationship with the unpaid the contractor, subcontractor or material supplier seeking payment. For these reasons it is important that those involved in a construction project know how construction law pertaining to mechanic’s liens in Maryland work so they can take steps to either protect themselves from having a lien placed on their their property or enforce their rights to lien the property where they provided materials or labor, including tactics for preventing liens, such a obtaining mechanics’ lien waivers, and specified time periods within which notice must be made, parties who must receive notice of intent to establish a mechanics’ lien, what information the notice must contain, time periods for filing a court petition to establish a mechaniscs’ lien in Maryland, etc.

MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW IN MARYLAND

Construction Law – Maryland Construction Lawyers and Mechanics’ Lien Law Attorneys: A Strong Remedy used by Maryland Construction Lawyers and Litigation Attorneys to Resolve Construction Payment Disputes on Behalf of Building Contractors and Material Suppliers in Maryland.

In construction law, a mechanics’ lien claim is a statutory remedy for contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers who have not been paid for construction work or building materials they have provided in connection with the construction of a building or other improvement to real property. A mechanics’ lien claim, if successful, results in the establishment of a lien against the real property (the land and buildings thereon) where the work or materials were provided. The lien can be used to force a sale of the real property as a source of monetary funds to satisfy the amount due for the construction work or building materials provided. The original rational in this country for creating this statutory remedy was to encourage contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers to provide work and materials in connection with the construction of Washington D.C. The federal government’s credit was not as good back then as it is today.

Notice of Intent to Seek Mechanics’ Lien  – 120 days

In Maryland, a subcontractor (any contractor or material supplier who does not have a contractual relationship directly with the owner) must serve a “Notice of Intention to Claim a Lien” on the owner of the property within 120 days from the last day they performed work or supplied materials on the project.

Petition for Mechanics’ Lien – 180 days

In order to establish a mechanics’ lien, a contractor or subcontractor, must file a “Petition for Mechanic’s Lien” in court within 180 days from the last day they performed work or supplied materials on the project.

Last Day Work Performed or Materials Supplied

Sometimes performing follow up warranty repair work or punch list items, even if performed long after the main work is completed, can constitute the last day. However, don’t take chances. Contact an attorney at Cowie & Mott, P.A. early for a free consultation.

Be Specific in Mechanics’ Lien Documentation

The “Notice of Intention to Claim a Lien” and the “Petition for Mechanic’s Lien,” referenced above, must contain specific informayion and documentation as specified in the Mechanics’ lien law Statute. Failure to timely include all the require information and documentation can result in the failure to obtain a lien.

Properties Subject to a Mechanics’ Lien – 15% Rule

Under Maryland law, mechanics’ liens can be placed on private property relative to construction work or renovations that increase the value of the property by 15%: “every building erected and every building repaired, rebuilt, or improved to the extent of 15 percent of its value” is subject to the establishment of a mechanics’ lien to satisfy payment of all debts.  In new construction this threshold is always satisfied .  It doesn’t matter how small your portion of the work or materials may be, it’s the value of the entire improvement that counts.

Mechanics’ Lien Rationale

Under Maryland law, a mechanics’ lien proceeding is “in rem” (i.e., that means the claim is against the property and not any specific person). Only the real property where the work was performed is subject to the lien. This is to be distinguished from an “in personam” proceeding (i.e., an action against the person) where a judgment against a defendant subjects all of the defendant’s property (e.g., bank accounts, personal property, etc.) to satisfaction of the judgment. An example of an in personam proceeding would be an action for breach of contract against the owner of the property for failure to pay for work performed. A contractor or subcontractor, who brings a mechanics’ lien claim against the property, may simultaneously maintain an in personam claim against the property owner and others who might be liable, if such an action is available.

Because a mechanics’ lien claim is against the property where the work was performed and not against the property owner personally, the property of the owner may be subjected to the lien of an unpaid subcontractor, even though the owner has no agreement to pay the subcontractor and may not even have known that the subcontractor performed any work on his or her property until receiving notice of the subcontractor’s intention to file a mechanics’ lien claim. For example, if an owner enters into an agreement with a contractor to construct a building on the owner’s property, the contractor may, in turn, enter into a subcontract agreement with a roofing subcontractor to install a roof on the building. If the general contractor fails to fully pay the roofing subcontractor for its work of installing the roof, the roofing subcontractor’s remedy is not merely limited to suing the contractor for breach of contract. Instead, the roofing subcontractor may also seek to establish a mechanics’ lien against the owner’s property in the amount of the unpaid balance due for the roofing work.

The mechanics’ lien law statute imposes certain requirements on such claims that are designed to give the owner notice of unpaid subcontractor claims shortly after they arise. However, with the exception of single-family homes, the burden falls on the owner to make sure all subcontractors have been paid before making final payment to the contractor.

Of note, the mechanics’ lien law statute refers to what we would normally think of as a general contractor simply as “contractor”. See Maryland Annotated Code, Real Property Article § 9-101(d). http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/mdcode/

The general purpose of the mechanics’ lien law statute is to protect labor and material suppliers in the construction industry. Riley v. Abrams, 287 Md. 348, 357, 412 A.2d 996 (1980). The Notice of Intention to Claim a Lien, however, is required for the protection of the property owner because of the significant property interest that is at stake. Barr , 277 Md. at 36-37, 353 A.2d 222. The “Notice of Intention to Claim a Lien”  informs the property owner of the nature and amount of the claim of the subcontractor that is intended to be fixed as a lien upon the owner’s property. This notice allows the owner  an opportunity to retain the money payable to the general contractor, to ensure payment to the subcontractor. District Heights Apts. v. Noland Co., 202 Md. 43, 51, 95 A.2d 90 (1952). This sum of money may then be applied by the owner to the payment of the lien which may be filed against the property.

Mechanics’ Lien Waivers

An owner can require a contractor to obtain signed mechanics’ lien releases from all subcontractors and material suppliers on a project for work performed and materials. These releases will protect owners and contractors from mechanics’ liens under Maryland law.

MARYLAND MECHANICS’ LIEN LAW ATTORNEYS

1321 Generals Highway, Suite 302, Crownsville, MD 21032 • Tel: 410-327-3800 • Fax: 410-327-3801 • cowielawgroup.com