NYC Administrative Code §20-386 et seq. requires every licensed home improvement contractor to provide a written contract for residential work valued at $200 or more. A contractor who performs work without a written contract is in violation of this law and can face license suspension.
Many contractors skip the contract or hand you a one-page estimate and call it a contract. That document does not protect you. A real HIC-compliant contract is a detailed document covering scope, payment, timeline, warranty, and your legal rights. We produce one on every job — not because we're required to, but because it's the only way to run a project cleanly.
Section 1
Parties & Project Address
Full legal names of both parties (contractor and homeowner), the property address where work will be performed, and Lintel NY's NYC HIC license number. Required by NYC law.
Section 2
Detailed Scope of Work
A line-by-line description of every trade included in the project: demolition, plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, tile, carpentry, painting, and finishes. No vague language. No hidden allowances. You see exactly what is included and what is explicitly excluded.
Section 3
Material & Fixture Specifications
Key material specifications are listed: waterproofing system (e.g., Schluter KERDI), tile standards (DCOF slip rating for floors), paint grade (e.g., Benjamin Moore Aura), and any client-selected fixtures noted by model or allowance amount. This prevents material substitution disputes.
Section 4
Contract Price & Payment Schedule
Total contract price stated clearly. Payment schedule tied to project milestones — not to calendar dates. Typically: deposit on signing, draw at rough-in completion, draw at tile/finish start, and final payment only after punch list sign-off. We do not collect the final payment before the project is complete to your satisfaction.
Section 5
Project Timeline
Estimated start date and projected completion date. Timeline is subject to permit approval timelines, material lead times, and weather-related delays (for exterior work). Any timeline changes are communicated in writing.
Section 6
Permit Responsibility
States clearly that Lintel NY is responsible for filing all required DOB permits and scheduling inspections. Permit fees are itemized as a line item in the estimate — not buried in overhead. We do not start work requiring permits without first obtaining them.
Section 7
Change Order Procedure
Any modification to the original scope — whether homeowner-requested or caused by unforeseen existing conditions — requires a written and signed change order before additional work begins. No verbal approvals. See our
Change Order Policy for details.
Section 8
Warranty Terms
Lintel NY provides a 2-year labor warranty on all completed work. The warranty covers defects in workmanship — not material failure from normal wear, homeowner misuse, or acts of nature. See our
Warranty & Closeout Policy for specifics.
Section 9
Your Right to Cancel
Under NYC HIC law, you have the right to cancel a signed contract within three business days of signing, without penalty and without losing your deposit. This cancellation right is stated explicitly in the contract. We don't pressure you to waive it.
Section 10
Dispute Resolution
Unresolved disputes are subject to NYC DCWP mediation. You retain the right to file a complaint with DCWP against a licensed contractor. We have never had a DCWP complaint filed against us.