Chapter ATCP 110

Register October 2004 No. 586

Chapter ATCP 110

HOME IMPROVEMENT PRACTICES

ATCP 110.01   Definitions.

ATCP 110.02   Prohibited trade practices.

ATCP 110.023   Substituting products or materials; altering the written contract.

ATCP 110.025   Lien waivers.

ATCP 110.027   Delay in contract performance.

ATCP 110.03   Building permits.

ATCP 110.04   Warranties.

ATCP 110.05   Home improvement contract requirements.

ATCP 110.06   Preservation of buyer’s claims and defenses.

ATCP 110.07   Contract cancellation; return of payments.

ATCP 110.08   Contract compliance.

ATCP 110.09   Basement waterproofing practices.

Ch. ATCP 110 History History: Chapter Ag 110 as it existed on May 31, 1974 was repealed and a new chapter Ag 110 was created, Register, May, 1974, No. 221, effective June 1, 1974; chapter Ag 110 was renumbered chapter ATCP 110 under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 1., Stats., Register, April, 1993, No. 448.

Ch. ATCP 110 Note Note: This chapter is adopted under authority of s. 100.20 (2), Stats., and is administered by the Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. Violations of this chapter may be prosecuted under s. 100.20 (6), 100.26 (3) or (6), Stats. A person who suffers a monetary loss because of a violation of this chapter may sue the violator directly under s. 100.20 (5), Stats., and may recover twice the amount of the loss, together with costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

ATCP 110.01 ATCP 110.01 Definitions.

ATCP 110.01(1) (1) “Buyer” means either of the following persons who is a party or prospective party to a home improvement contract:

ATCP 110.01(1)(a) (a) The owner of residential or noncommercial property to which the home improvement contract pertains.

ATCP 110.01(1)(b) (b) The tenant or lessee of residential or noncommercial property to which the home improvement contract pertains if the tenant or lessee is or will be obligated to make a payment under the home improvement contract.

ATCP 110.01(2) (2) “Home improvement” means the remodeling, altering, repairing, painting, or modernizing of residential or non-commercial property, or the making of additions thereto, and includes, but is not limited to, the construction, installation, replacement, improvement, or repair of driveways, sidewalks, swimming pools, terraces, patios, landscaping, fences, porches, garages, basements and basement waterproofing, fire protection devices, heating and air conditioning equipment, water softeners, heaters and purifiers, wall-to-wall carpeting or attached or inlaid floor coverings, and other changes, repairs, or improvements made in or on, attached to, or forming a part of, the residential or non-commercial property. The term extends to the conversion of existing commercial structures into residential or non-commercial property. “Home improvement” does not include the construction of a new residence or the major renovation of an existing structure.

ATCP 110.01(2m) (2m) “Major renovation of an existing structure” means a renovation or reconstruction contract where the total price of the contract is more than the assessed value of the existing structure at the time the contract is initiated.

ATCP 110.01(3) (3) “Residential or non-commercial property” means a structure used, in whole or in part, as a home or place of residence by any natural person, whether or not a single or multi-unit structure, and that part of the lot or site on which it is situated and which is devoted to the residential use of the structure, and includes all appurtenant structures. The term extends to all other existing non-commercial structures and the immediate premises on which they are situated even though they are not used for residential purposes.

ATCP 110.01(4) (4) “Home improvement contract” means an oral or written agreement between a seller and an owner, or a seller and a tenant or lessee, of residential or non-commercial property, or a seller and a tenant or lessee if the tenant or lessee is to be obligated for the payment of home improvements made in, to, or upon such property, and includes all agreements under which the seller is to perform labor or render services for home improvements, or furnish materials in connection therewith.

ATCP 110.01(5) (5) “Seller” means a person engaged in the business of making or selling home improvements and includes corporations, partnerships, associations, and any other form of business organization or entity, and their officers, representatives, agents, and employees.

ATCP 110.01(6) (6) “Warranty” means any warranty or guarantee made with respect to labor, services, products, or materials provided under a home improvement contract. “Warranty” includes a seller’s warranty and a manufacturer’s product warranty.

ATCP 110.01 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1974, No. 221, eff. 6-1-74; renum. (1) to (4) to be (2) to (5), cr. (1) and (6), Register, September, 1993, No. 453, eff. 10-1-93; CR 13-066: am. (2), cr. (2m) Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 6-1-14.

ATCP 110.02 ATCP 110.02 Prohibited trade practices. No seller shall engage in the following unfair methods of competition or unfair trade practices:

ATCP 110.02(1) (1) Model home representations. Misrepresent or falsely state to a prospective buyer that the buyer’s residential or non-commercial property is to serve as a “model” or “advertising job”, or use any other prospective buyer lure to mislead the buyer into believing that a price reduction or other compensation will be received by reason of such representations.

ATCP 110.02(2) (2) Production and material representations. Misrepresent directly or by implication that products or materials to be used in the home improvement:

ATCP 110.02(2)(a) (a) Need no periodic repainting, finishing, maintenance, or other service.

ATCP 110.02(2)(b) (b) Are of a specific or well-known brand name, or are produced by a specific manufacturer or exclusively distributed by the seller.

ATCP 110.02(2)(c) (c) Are of a specific size, weight, grade, or quality, or possess any other distinguishing characteristics or features.

ATCP 110.02(2)(d) (d) Perform certain functions or substitute for, or are equal in performance to, other products or materials.

ATCP 110.02(2)(e) (e) Meet or exceed municipal, state, federal, or other applicable standards or requirements.

ATCP 110.02(2)(f) (f) Are approved or recommended by any governmental agency, person, form, or organization, or that they are the users of such products or materials.

ATCP 110.02(2)(g) (g) Are of sufficient size, capacity, character, or nature to do the job expected or represented.

ATCP 110.02(2)(h) (h) Are or will be custom-built or specially designed for the needs of the buyer.

ATCP 110.02(2)(i) (i) May be serviced or repaired within the buyer’s immediate trade area, or be maintained with replacement and repair parts which are readily available.

ATCP 110.02(3) (3) Bait selling.

ATCP 110.02(3)(a) (a) Offer or represent specific products or materials as being for sale, where the purpose or effect of the offer or representation is not to sell as represented but to bait or entice the buyer into the purchase of other or higher priced substitute products or materials.

ATCP 110.02(3)(b) (b) Disparage, degrade, or otherwise discourage the purchase of products or materials offered or represented by the seller as being for sale, by statements or representations in conflict with other claims or representations made with respect to such products and materials, to induce the buyer to purchase other or higher priced substitute products or materials.

ATCP 110.02(3)(c) (c) Refuse to show, demonstrate, or sell products or materials as advertised, offered, or represented as being for sale.

ATCP 110.02(3)(e) (e) Fail to have available a quantity of the advertised product sufficient to meet reasonably anticipated demands.

ATCP 110.02(3)(f) (f) Misrepresent that certain products or materials are unavailable or that there will be a long delay in their manufacture, delivery, service, or installation in order to induce a buyer to purchase other or higher priced substitute products or materials from the seller.

ATCP 110.02(4) (4) Identity of seller.

ATCP 110.02(4)(a) (a) Deceptively gain entry into the prospective buyer’s home or onto the buyer’s property under the guise of any governmental or public utility inspection, or otherwise misrepresent that the seller has any official right, duty, or authority to conduct an inspection.

ATCP 110.02(4)(b) (b) Misrepresent that the seller is an employee, officer, or representative of a manufacturer, importer, or any other person, firm, or organization, or that such person, firm, or organization will assume some obligation in fulfilling the terms of the contract.

ATCP 110.02(4)(c) (c) Misrepresent the status, authority, or position of the sales representative in the organization he or she represents.

ATCP 110.02(4)(d) (d) Misrepresent that the seller is licensed, bonded, or insured. If the seller represents that the seller is licensed, bonded, or insured, the seller shall provide the buyer with a written statement specifically describing the type of license, bond, or insurance that the seller possesses.

ATCP 110.02(5) (5) Gift offers. Offer or advertise any gift, free item, or bonus without fully disclosing the terms or conditions of the offer, including expiration date of the offer and when the gift, free item, or bonus will be given, or fail to comply with the terms of such offer.

ATCP 110.02(6) (6) Price and financing.

ATCP 110.02(6)(a) (a) Misrepresent to a prospective buyer that an introductory, confidential, close-out, going out of business, factory, wholesale, or any other special price or discount is being given, or that any other concession is made because of materials left over from another job, a market survey, or test, or any other reason.

ATCP 110.02(6)(b) (b) Misrepresent that any person, firm, or organization, whether or not connected with the seller, is especially interested in seeing that the prospective buyer gets a bargain, special price, discount, or any other benefit or concession.

ATCP 110.02(6)(c) (c) Misrepresent or mislead the prospective buyer into believing that insurance or some other form of protection will be furnished to relieve the buyer from obligations under the contract if the buyer becomes ill, dies, or is unable to make payments.

ATCP 110.02(6)(d) (d) Misrepresent or mislead the buyer into believing that no obligation will be incurred because of the signing of any document, or that the buyer will be relieved of some or all obligations under the contract by the signing of any document.