How a Construction Business Hired a Lawyer to Draft a Work Order in California

Can a contractor be held responsible for completing work that was not specified in the work order?

I recently hired a contractor to remodel my kitchen, and we agreed upon the scope of work in a written work order, which included tasks like installing new cabinets, countertops, and flooring. However, during the remodeling process, the contractor also made additional changes to the plumbing layout without my consent, which resulted in additional work and expenses for me. I'm now unsure if the contractor can be held responsible for completing work that was not specified in the original work order, and I would like to know my rights in this situation.

Dolan W.

Answered Sep 20, 2024

I'm so sorry about this situation! So generally, the answer to your question is that the contractor is generally not entitled to the extra money. The law requires that your home improvement contracts include a clause that states that a change order for extra work will be incorporated into the contract and shall only become a part of the contract only if it is in writing and signed by the parties prior to the commencement of any work, covered by a change order. Accordingly, the law would generally allow you to avoid having to pay for this extra work since it was likely not in the contract and not consented to in advance.