Can a lien be put on your Florida home even if you pay a contractor in full?

A homeowner may still face a lien against their property if the contractor they paid in full doesn’t compensate its subcontractors or suppliers who completed the work.

A lien is a legal claim put on a property until debt is resolved. 

Florida law gives certain unpaid subcontractors or suppliers the right to pursue a construction lien on a home to seek financial compensation for completed work. This is because suing the contractor who didn’t pay them doesn’t always result in fair payment if the contractor has spent the money, declared bankruptcy or has gone out of business.

Homeowners can take steps to reduce the risk of a lien being placed on their home. Before making final payments, they can obtain appropriate signed lien releases showing that applicable parties have waived their lien rights or request a contractor’s final payment affidavit to identify unpaid parties who may still have lien rights.