Mechanics liens if a contractor does not get paid

A lien is a legal claim against the property. It’s not a mean review. If a contractor or a sub doesn’t get paid, they may file one.

You can do everything right and still get a notice because the general contractor didn’t pay the drywall crew. That’s the part that shocks people.

Don’t ignore a letter with “lien” on it. Don’t pay twice in cash to make a guy go away without paper.

Do this now

1. Save every contract, change order, and payment proof in one folder.
2. Ask for lien waivers when you pay a draw, especially if subs are on site.
3. If you get a lien notice, read the whole thing and note the deadlines on the page.
4. Don’t throw the notice out with the flood mail.
5. Call a Texas construction or real-estate attorney if a lien is filed. This is not a group-chat fix.

How this shows up after a flood

Lots of crews, lots of subs, lots of cash confusion. A supplier who dropped sheetrock may have rights you never heard of. Paying the person who smiles in your kitchen is not always paying the person who could file. Get names of the companies actually working. Get waivers that match the checks you wrote.

You paid the GC and a sub still wants money

That’s a classic mess. Don’t automatically pay the sub the same invoice again. Do take it seriously. Ask the GC for proof they paid. Ask the sub for their contract and delivery tickets. If the stories don’t match, pause further draws until the paper does. A lawyer is cheaper than a cloud on the title when you need to sell or refinance.

What not to do

Don’t rip up the notice. Don’t threaten the crew. Don’t agree to a side cash deal “to release it” with no written release. If someone is using a fake lien as a shakedown, that’s a path toward the Harris County District Attorney and the Texas Attorney General, plus TDLR. Real liens still need a real response.

Do this next

1. Door-to-door after Harvey-style events: patterns to refuse
2. Checking licenses and references in Texas under pressure
3. Commercial providers hub

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