MANALAPAN – On Tuesday, September 19, the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing in Manalapan on a package of home contractor reforms to protect new home buyers in New Jersey.
The hearing, the last in a series of regional hearings to focus on new home buyer protections, will take place at the Manalapan Township Municipal Complex, 120 Route 522 (at Taylors Mills Road) at 7 P.M.
“New Jersey’s homebuyers need to be protected from unfair, dishonest, and downright shoddy work from unscrupulous contractors,” said Senator Ronald L. Rice, D-Essex, the Committee Chair and sponsor of the bill package. “As it stands, contractors can get by with a slap on the wrist for defrauding homebuyers, and many times the damage isn’t seen until years later, and costs far more to repair. These bills will put serious penalties on the books for fraud in home contracting, and will enhance the State inspection process, to ensure that homebuyers have the highest level of protection.”
“In Monmouth County, we’re experiencing a development boom, as families move in from New York and elsewhere,” said Senator Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. “New houses are going up left and right, and with that comes the temptation to cut corners and the potential for contractor fraud. I invited Senator Rice and the Committee to come to Monmouth County because I know my constituents can give them a unique perspective on the problems of home contractor fraud, and play an important part in the process to strengthen homebuyer protections.”
The bills will be considered for discussion only, with a vote to be taken at a later date. Senators Karcher and Rice encouraged members of the public to attend and let their voices be heard.