An Iowa Supreme Court ruling may give homeowners more recourse for shoddy construction work. In a case involving a couple from the Des Moines suburb of Clive, the court ruled a homebuyer can sue their home’s builder, even if the home was not purchased directly from the builder.
The Clive couple claimed poor roof and gutter work caused mold and water damage in their home. They were the home’s third owners. The court ruled there’s an implied warranty of good workmanship and it applies to subsequent owners as well as original purchasers. The court cited other cases noting that in these increasingly mobile times, a home’s ownership is likely to change hands repeatedly.