Thinking about ‘flipping’ a fixer upper? Make sure you and those who work for you are registered contractors! Learn the law about rehabbing properties before you flip…
QUESTION: Must a flipper, an investor who buys a property in Rhode Island, rehabs it, then resells the property, register as a contractor?
ANSWER: Yes. R.I.G.L. § 5-65 requires a flipper to register as a contractor unless he or she lives in the property for a year after the completion of the work.State regulation defines flipping as, “when a person performs, employs others to perform, or for compensation with the intent to sell the structure, arranges to have performed any work described in 5-65-1 (3) if within a twelve month period offers for sale that structure on which that work was performed.
http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/CRB/8061.pdf
QUESTION: If the investor hires subcontractors who are licensed or registered, must the investor still register as a contractor?
ANSWER: Yes.
QUESTION: If an investor uses different business entities to buy and rehab property, can the investor use a different registration for each entity?
ANSWER: No. Each corporation, LLC, or other entity must register separately with the Contractors’ Registration Board even if the same person is involved with each entity. http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE5/5-65/5-65-1.HTM
QUESTION: How does an investor register as a contractor?
ANSWER: The requirements are listed on the Contractors’ Registration Board web site.
Questions? Contact the Contractors’ Registration Board at http://www.crb.ri.gov/ or the RIAR Legal Department at 401-432-6945.
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