Maine Code § 17-A-908

Home construction or repair fraud
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1. A home construction or repair seller is guilty of home construction or repair fraud if the seller
knowingly enters into an agreement or contract, written or oral, with any person for home construction
or repair services and the seller, at the time of entering into that agreement or contract:
A. Intentionally misrepresents a material fact relating to the terms of the agreement or contract or
misrepresents a preexisting or existing condition of any portion of the property that is the subject
of the home construction or repair services. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; [PL
2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]

B. Intentionally creates or reinforces an impression relating to the terms of the agreement or
contract that is false and that the seller does not believe to be true or fails to correct such an
impression that the seller had previously created or reinforced. Violation of this paragraph is a
Class D crime; [PL 2001, c. 383, §110 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
C. Intentionally promises performance under the terms of the agreement or contract that the seller
does not intend to perform or that the seller knows will not be performed. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class D crime; [PL 2001, c. 383, §110 (AMD); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
D. Intentionally uses or employs deception, false pretense or false promise in securing the
agreement or contract. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; [PL 2001, c. 383, §110
(AMD); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]
E. Knows that the property that is the subject of the home construction or repair services was
previously damaged or destroyed by the seller with the intent to obtain the agreement or contract.
Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; [PL 2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
F. Violates paragraph A and the person has 2 or more prior convictions under this section or for
engaging in substantially similar conduct to that contained in this section in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class C crime; [PL 2007, c. 476, §34 (AMD).]
G. Violates paragraph B and the person has 2 or more prior convictions under this section or for
engaging in substantially similar conduct to that contained in this section in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class C crime; [PL 2007, c. 476, §35 (AMD).]
H. Violates paragraph C and the person has 2 or more prior convictions under this section or for
engaging in substantially similar conduct to that contained in this section in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class C crime; [PL 2007, c. 476, §36 (AMD).]
I. Violates paragraph D and the person has 2 or more prior convictions under this section or for
engaging in substantially similar conduct to that contained in this section in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class C crime; or [PL 2007, c. 476, §37 (AMD).]
J. Violates paragraph E and the person has 2 or more prior convictions under this section or for
engaging in substantially similar conduct to that contained in this section in another jurisdiction.
Section 9-A governs the use of prior convictions when determining a sentence. Violation of this
paragraph is a Class C crime. [PL 2007, c. 476, §38 (AMD).]
[PL 2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
2.
[PL 2007, c. 475, §12 (RP).]
3. As used in this section, unless otherwise indicated, the following terms have the following
meanings.
A. "Home construction or repair services" means building or constructing a residence and fixing,
replacing, altering, converting, modernizing, improving or making an addition to real property
primarily designed or used as a residence. "Home construction or repair services" includes not only
structural work but also the construction, installation, replacement, improvement and cleaning of
driveways, swimming pools, porches, kitchens, chimneys, chimney liners, garages, fences, fall-out
shelters, central air conditioning, central heating, boilers, furnaces, hot water heaters, electric
wiring, sewers, carpeting, plumbing fixtures, storm doors, storm windows, siding or awnings and

other improvements to structures within the residence or upon the land adjacent to the residence,
including tree trimming. [PL 2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
B. "Home construction or repair seller" or "seller" means a person, partnership, corporation,
business, trust or other legal entity that sells or provides home construction or repair services. [PL
2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
C. "Residence" means a single-family or multifamily dwelling, including a single-family home,
apartment building, condominium, duplex or townhouse that is used or intended to be used by its
occupants as a dwelling place. [PL 1995, c. 681, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
4.
[PL 2001, c. 383, §111 (RP); PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF).]

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