21-1-16. Residential construction defects--Notice and opportunity to remedy--Time for inspection and offer to repair or compensate.

Prior to commencing an action against the construction professional for a construction defect, a home owner shall:

(1)    Serve on the construction professional a written notice describing the alleged construction defect; and

(2)    Allow the construction professional, within thirty days after service of the notice, to inspect the alleged construction defect and serve on the home owner a written offer to repair the construction defect or compensate the owner by monetary payment.

The home owner may not commence an action against the construction professional for a construction defect until thirty days after the notice is served on the construction professional or until the construction professional refuses to remedy the alleged construction defect, whichever occurs first. Upon service of the notice, the statute of limitations set forth in chapter 15-2A is suspended for the thirty-day period or until the refusal, whichever occurs first. If the home owner commences an action against the construction professional without complying with the requirements of this section, the action shall be stayed until the home owner has complied with such requirements. No home owner is required to serve another written notice for any additional defects discovered after the home owner has served an initial written notice of a construction defect pursuant to this section. The provisions of this section do not apply to the initiation of a counterclaim or cross-claim in any action that is already properly commenced.

Source: SL 2007, ch 137, § 2.