Iowa roof inspection report requirements

What Iowa requires

• A residential contractor may not represent or negotiate, or offer or advertise to represent or negotiate, for an owner or possessor of residential real estate on any insurance claim connected with repairing or replacing roof systems or other exterior repair, replacement or reconstruction workIowa Code 103A.71 (3)
• A residential contractor contracting to repair damage from a catastrophe (a natural occurrence such as fire, earthquake, tornado, windstorm, flood or hail storm) gives the person it contracts with a fully completed duplicate Notice of Contract Obligations and Rights in at least 10-point bold type, in the law's wording, and that person signs it before or at the same time as entering the contractIowa Code 103A.71 (1) (a), (4)
• A residential contractor may not advertise or promise to rebate any part of an insurance deductible to win the sale, which includes any allowance or discount against its fees or any compensation to a person connected with the home, except items of nominal value. A yard sign is allowed when the owner consents and is not paid for itIowa Code 103A.71 (2)
• A contract with a residential contractor is void if the contractor rebates or promises to rebate the deductible, represents or negotiates the owner's claim, or skips the signed notice; a rebate or claim representation is also an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud law, section 714.16. The section covers contractors repairing or replacing roof systems (coverings, sheathing, weatherproofing and insulation) on buildings for one to four families, detached garages includedIowa Code 103A.71 (1), (5), (6)
• Under a post-loss assignment of insurance proceeds, a residential contractor may not rebate the deductible, charge the insured a fee for canceling or for processing the insurance check or dealing with the mortgage company, act as an unlicensed public adjuster, or take payments unrelated to the repair such as living expenses or loss of use. The assignment itemizes the work, materials, labor and fees with a total, states that no assurance of full coverage was made, and carries the law's capitalized 14-point noticesIowa Code 515.137A (3), (4) (Insured Homeowner's Protection Act)
• Any written contract, repair estimate or work order a residential contractor prepares for work paid from insurance under a post-loss assignment includes the Notice of Contract Obligations and Rights in capitalized 14-point type, signed by the named insured and sent to the insurer before the contractor is paidIowa Code 515.137A (6)
• The insured may cancel a post-loss assignment in writing without penalty or fee within five business days of receiving the fully executed copy, or when substantial work has not started 30 calendar days after its scheduled start (or after execution, when no start date is given); the contractor returns all payments and deposits within ten business days. A copy of the executed assignment goes to the insurer, the insured and every mortgagee within five business daysIowa Code 515.137A (4) (e), (5)
• For at least 72 hours after a catastrophic disaster (which includes a presidential major disaster declaration or the governor's state of disaster emergency proclamation), a residential contractor may not sign a contract with an insured that includes a post-loss assignment; the commissioner may extend the wait by another 72 hours after a public hearing. An assignment is void if the contractor breaks the section, and a violation is an unfair practice under chapter 507BIowa Code 515.137A (2) (b), (7) to (9)