[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Wallkill as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-3-1975 by L.L.
No. 5-1975]
When a vendor undertakes to build or construct a home for a vendee within
the Town of Wallkill and such vendee is required to pay a deposit to such
vendor, the vendor shall post with the Town Clerk, as agent for the chief
fiscal officer of the Town of Wallkill, a bond in the amount of such deposit
or deposits. Such bond shall be posted by the vendor within five business
days after receipt of said deposit or deposits and shall secure the payment
of said deposit to the vendee upon the vendor's default. Such bond shall be
in such form as required by the Superintendent of Insurance.
In lieu of posting a bond as provided in this article, the vendor shall
place the deposit or deposits paid to him by the vendee in an interest-bearing
escrow account with a bank, as defined in the Banking Law, within five business
days after receipt of such deposit or deposits. Such deposit or deposits,
together with interest accumulated thereon, shall remain the property of the
vendee, except as otherwise provided herein.
Upon transfer of title of the home to the vendee, the bond posted pursuant
to this article shall be released, and any funds held in escrow pursuant to
the provisions of this article, together with interest accumulated thereon,
shall become the property of the vendor, unless otherwise agreed between the
vendor and vendee.
Upon default by the vendor, the vendee may demand return of his deposit
or deposits from the vendor. If the vendor has placed the deposit or deposits
in an escrow account pursuant to the provisions of this article, he shall
physically transfer the account to the vendee or pay the balance of said account
to the vendee within 14 business days after the day on which the demand was
made. If the vendor has posted a bond pursuant to the provisions of this article,
the vendee may initiate action for payment thereon if his deposit or deposits
have not been paid to such vendee by the vendor within 14 business days after
the day in which said demand was made.
Before any building permit is issued for new home construction within
the Town of Wallkill, the builder shall furnish the Building Inspector with
proof that either a bond has been posted with the Town Clerk, as agent for
the chief fiscal officer of the town as aforesaid or that said deposit or
deposits have been placed in an interest-bearing escrow account in a bank
as provided herein.
A.
Failure of the vendor to comply with any of the provisions of this article is a misappropriation of funds and action may be brought by the vendee against the vendor for the return of any moneys advanced. In addition, such vendor shall be liable for criminal action pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this section.
B.
Failure of the vendor to comply with any of the provisions
of this article shall be deemed a misdemeanor.
C.
Nothing in this article shall impair, limit or reduce
the statutory, common law or contractual duties or liability of any vendor
in the construction of a home, nor shall these provisions apply to any local
law or ordinance which requires the posting of public improvement bonds.
When used in this article, the following terms, unless the context requires
otherwise, shall have the following meanings:
Occurs where title to the home is not transferred to the vendee because
of the failure of the vendor to substantially perform those provisions of
the agreement between the vendor and vendee wherein the vendor undertook to
build or construct a home for the vendee, or where the vendor becomes insolvent.
Communication of an actual notice to the vendor of requests made
therein.
Any moneys given as down payment by the vendee to the vendor as required
by the vendor prior to the commencement of the work to be performed, pursuant
to an agreement between the vendor and vendee, wherein the vendor undertook
to build or construct a home for the vendee.
A new one- or two-family dwelling intended to be used primarily as
a residence.
Any individual or individuals who have contracted with a vendor for
construction of a home on land not owned at the time of such agreement by
such individual or individuals.
Any person, firm, corporation or association engaged in the business
of erecting or constructing homes.
