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Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§3705 Warranties

Title 38 › PART III — READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS › CHAPTER 37 — HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL › § 3705

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Sellers, builders, and anyone the Secretary requires must give the buyer or owner a written warranty that a house meant for no more than four families and appraised for guaranty or insurance before construction was built basically the same as the plans and specifications used for its appraisal. The Secretary must give written approval for any major change to those plans, file a copy with the plans, and that approval is final proof of what was appraised. The warranty covers only major departures from the approved plans that the buyer or owner reports in writing within one year from the date title is conveyed or from first occupancy, whichever happens first. The warranty adds to, and does not replace, any other rights the owner has. It applies to properties with mortgages insured or guaranteed by the Secretary on or after October 1, 1954, unless the mortgage was covered by a commitment made before that date. The Secretary must also let buyers, owners, or warrantors inspect or copy the plans and any written approvals at local offices during reasonable hours.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §3705

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall 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 appraised for guaranty or insurance before the beginning of construction, the seller or builder, and such other person as may be required by the 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) on which the Secretary based the Secretary’s valuation of the dwelling. The Secretary shall deliver to the builder, seller, or other warrantor the Secretary’s written approval (which shall be conclusive evidence of such appraisal) 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. 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 in this section, by the Secretary) as to which the purchaser or home owner 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. 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. The provisions of this section shall apply to any such property covered by a mortgage insured or guaranteed by the Secretary on and after October 1, 1954, unless such mortgage is insured or guaranteed pursuant to a commitment therefor made before October 1, 1954.
(b)The Secretary shall permit copies of the plans and specifications (including written approvals of any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, as provided in this section) 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, home owner, or warrantor during such hours or periods of time as the Secretary may determine to be reasonable.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–446 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 102–54, § 15(a)(1)(A). See 1991 Amendment note below. 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1805 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–54, § 15(a)(1)(B), substituted “appraisal)” for “approval)” in second sentence. Pub. L. 102–54, § 15(a)(1)(A), as amended by Pub. L. 103–446, substituted “appraised” for “approved” before “for guaranty” in first sentence. 1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” and “Secretary’s” for “Administrator” and “Administrator’s”, respectively, wherever appearing. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–324 substituted “the Administrator’s” for “his” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 Amendment Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4689, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective June 13, 1991, and as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 102–54.

Effective Date

of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–324 effective June 30, 1976, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 94–324, set out as a note under section 3701 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 3705

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102