Title 12, Banks and BankingRelease 119-110
§1701j–1 Builder’s Certification as to Construction
Title 12 › CHAPTER 13 — NATIONAL HOUSING › § 1701j–1
Summary
Builders or sellers must give the buyer or homeowner a written warranty that a house for up to four families was built to match the plans and specifications HUD used to value the home. If HUD approved any major changes to those plans, HUD will give written approval, file a copy with the plans, and that approval is final. The warranty only covers major differences from the approved plans that the buyer or owner tells the warrantor about in writing within one year after the title is transferred or the home is first lived in, whichever happens first. The warranty does not replace any other legal rights. It applies to mortgages insured by HUD on or after October 1, 1954, unless a commitment was made before that date. HUD must also make the plans and any written approvals available for people to inspect or copy at local HUD offices during reasonable hours.
Full Legal Text
Title 12, §1701j–1
Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Warranty requirements
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized and directed to require that, in connection with any property upon which there is located a dwelling designed principally for not more than a four-family residence and which is approved for mortgage insurance prior to the beginning of construction, the seller or builder, and such other person as may be required by the said Secretary to become warrantor, shall deliver to the purchaser or owner of such property a warranty that the dwelling is constructed in substantial conformity with the plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes and variations therein, which have been approved in writing by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) on which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development based his valuation of the dwelling: Provided, That the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall deliver to the builder, seller, or other warrantor his written approval (which shall be conclusive evidence of such approval) of any amendment of, or change or variation in, such plans and specifications which the Secretary deems to be a substantial amendment thereof, or change or variation therein, and shall file a copy of such written approval with such plans and specifications: Provided further, That such warranty shall apply only with respect to such instances of substantial nonconformity to such approved plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, which have been approved in writing, as provided herein, by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) as to which the purchaser or homeowner has given written notice to the warrantor within one year from the date of conveyance of title to, or initial occupancy of, the dwelling, whichever first occurs: Provided further, That such warranty shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, all other rights and privileges which such purchaser or owner may have under any other law or instrument: And provided further, That the provisions of this section shall apply to any such property covered by a mortgage insured by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on and after October 1, 1954, unless such mortgage is insured pursuant to a commitment therefor made prior to October 1, 1954.
(b)Availability of plans and specifications
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is further directed to permit copies of the plans and specifications (including written approvals of any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, as provided herein) for dwellings in connection with which warranties are required by subsection (a) of this section to be made available in their appropriate local offices for inspection or for copying by any purchaser, homeowner, or warrantor during such hours or periods of time as the said Secretary may determine to be reasonable.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was enacted as part of the Housing Act of 1954, and not as part of the National Housing Act which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
1967—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary of Housing and Urban Development” and “Secretary” for “Federal Housing Commissioner” and “Commissioner”, respectively. 1958—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 85–857 struck out provisions that related to Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs and to mortgages guaranteed by him. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 85–857 struck out provisions that related to Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1958 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 85–857 effective Jan. 1, 1959, see section 2 of Pub. L. 85–857, set out as an
Effective Date
note preceding part 1 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits. Study Regarding Home Warranty Plans Pub. L. 102–550, title V, § 514, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3789, directed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a study of home and builder’s warranties and protection plans regarding
Construction
of, and materials used in, 1- to 4-family dwellings subject to mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.), and submit a report to Congress regarding findings of the study and any recommendations of the Secretary resulting from the study, not later than the expiration of the 12-month period beginning on Oct. 28, 1992.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 1701j–1
Title 12, Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110