When a remodeling project goes wrong — abandoned mid-job, substandard work, or a deposit that disappeared — you have real legal options. Latif Law represents Columbus-area homeowners against contractors who failed to deliver what they promised.
Home improvement disputes are among the most common civil claims in Franklin County. Homeowners invest tens of thousands of dollars in contractors who then disappear, deliver unacceptable work, or leave the property in worse condition than they found it. Ohio law provides real remedies — and in many cases, more than just your money back.
A contractor who walks off the job after receiving payment has breached the contract. You can recover the cost to complete the work with a new contractor, any additional expenses caused by the abandonment, and in some cases the full amount paid if work was never meaningfully started.
Faulty framing, improper electrical or plumbing, water infiltration from poor roofing or window installation, cracked foundations, and structural errors. Ohio law implies a warranty of workmanlike performance in every residential construction contract — defective work is a breach.
Some contractors collect a deposit and never mobilize. If a reasonable time has passed and the contractor has not begun work or has gone silent, you can demand return of the deposit and — if refused — sue to recover it with interest.
Contractors who perform unpermitted work in Columbus expose homeowners to code enforcement action, failed home sales, and costly remediation. The failure to obtain required permits is itself a breach of the implied terms of a home improvement contract.
Ohio law requires written authorization for significant scope changes on residential projects. A contractor who demands payment beyond the contracted amount for work you did not authorize has a very weak legal position.
If your general contractor failed to pay their subcontractors or suppliers, those parties can file a mechanic's lien against your home's title — even if you paid the GC in full. This clouds your title and can block a sale. We help homeowners understand their rights and dispute improper liens.
Most homeowners who have been wronged by a contractor know they can sue for breach of contract. What they often don't know is that Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) (R.C. §1345.01 et seq.) may provide significantly greater remedies.
The CSPA applies to home improvement contracts as consumer transactions and prohibits unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts by contractors. When a contractor's conduct qualifies as a CSPA violation, Ohio law allows you to recover:
Up to 3× your actual damages
For knowing or intentional violations, courts can award treble (triple) damages — not just what you lost.
Reasonable attorney fees
Unlike typical breach of contract claims, successful CSPA claims entitle you to recover your attorney fees from the contractor.
Injunctive relief
Courts can order the contractor to stop ongoing deceptive practices and complete or correct the work.
CSPA deadline: CSPA claims must generally be brought within 2 years of when you knew or should have known of the violation. Breach of written contract claims have 8 years. Don't wait — evidence of defective work is easier to document soon after the problem appears.
What you do in the first few days and weeks after a contractor problem surfaces will directly affect your legal options. Here is what matters most.
Photograph all defective work, unfinished areas, and property damage from multiple angles. Date-stamp the photos. If the contractor is still on-site, do not interfere with the work — document it instead. If they have left, document the current state before anyone touches it.
Collect the signed contract, all change orders, all payments (canceled checks, bank transfers, receipts), all text messages and emails with the contractor, the permit history from Columbus Building and Zoning, and any inspection reports.
Ohio's Home Solicitation Sales Act and general contract principles favor a written notice giving the contractor an opportunity to cure before you sue. A letter stating the specific defects, the remedy you expect, and a reasonable deadline creates a record and often prompts action or a settlement offer.
A licensed contractor or building inspector can document defects in writing and provide a cost-to-remediate estimate. This becomes critical evidence in court and in settlement negotiations — it gives your damages claim a defensible dollar figure.
If the contractor has left the job incomplete or defective, do not pay any remaining balance they claim is due. An unpaid balance gives you leverage and may be part of your damage calculation. Consult an attorney before making any further payments.
Filing complaints with the Ohio Attorney General's CSPA unit or the Ohio Contractors Board can be valuable, but doing so without legal guidance can inadvertently affect your civil claim. We help you use these tools strategically alongside your lawsuit.
Columbus requires building permits for most structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work. The Columbus Building & Zoning Services Division (111 N. Front St.) maintains public permit and inspection records. We pull these records routinely in contractor dispute cases — they are often the most objective evidence of what was and was not done correctly.
Ohio does not have a statewide general contractor license, but electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and other specialty trades require state-issued licenses. Columbus and Franklin County require registration for certain home improvement contractors. A contractor who performed licensed work without the required license may face additional CSPA and negligence per se liability.
Claims up to $15,000: Franklin County Municipal Court (375 S. High St.). Claims above $15,000 or seeking injunctive relief: Franklin County Court of Common Pleas (345 S. High St.). Most significant home improvement disputes exceed the municipal court threshold — particularly when remediation costs and CSPA treble damages are included.
If a contractor approached you at your home (door-to-door or unsolicited), Ohio's Home Solicitation Sales Act (R.C. §1345.21) gives you a 3-business-day right to cancel the contract in writing. Contractors who fail to provide written notice of this right have violated the law — which is itself a CSPA violation.
Yes. Homeowners can sue for breach of contract, negligent construction, and violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act. The CSPA is especially powerful — it allows up to three times your actual damages plus attorney fees if the contractor's conduct was knowing or intentional. Claims are filed in Franklin County Municipal Court (under $15,000) or Franklin County Common Pleas Court (over $15,000).
You can recover the cost to complete the work with a new contractor minus what you still owed, plus any additional costs caused by the abandonment — temporary repairs, storage, alternative housing. If you paid a deposit for work that was never started, you can sue to recover the full amount. Document everything before hiring a replacement contractor.
This is a common and serious problem. Mechanic's liens cloud your title and can block a home sale or refinance. Ohio's mechanic's lien statute (R.C. Chapter 1311) gives homeowners rights to dispute invalid liens and demand that the general contractor provide a bond. You can also pursue the general contractor for the lien amounts. Act quickly — lien disputes have tight deadlines.
If the contractor's conduct was unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable — including misrepresenting the work, using high-pressure tactics, performing grossly substandard work, or violating a practice previously declared unlawful by the Ohio AG — you may be entitled to treble (triple) your actual damages plus reasonable attorney fees. This makes CSPA claims substantially more valuable than pure breach of contract claims.
Written contract breach: 8 years (R.C. §2305.06). CSPA violations: 2 years from discovery. Property damage: 4 years. Ohio also has a 10-year statute of repose for construction defects in real property improvements (R.C. §2305.131) — no claim can be brought more than 10 years after substantial completion regardless of when you found the problem. For most homeowners, the CSPA 2-year window is the most critical to watch.
Schedule a consultation to review your contract and assess your options. We represent homeowners throughout Franklin County and Central Ohio.