Legal Definitions - Laborer's lien

Laborer's lien

A laborer's lien is a legal claim placed against a property by individuals or companies who have performed physical work or provided labor to improve that property, but have not yet received payment for their services. It grants the laborer a security interest in the property, meaning they have a legal right to seek payment from the property itself if the owner fails to pay them for their work. This type of lien is designed to protect those who contribute their effort and skill to enhance real estate.

Here are a few examples:

• Residential Roofing Project: Imagine a team of roofers hired to install a brand new roof on a homeowner's house. After completing the extensive work, which involved significant physical labor and skill, the homeowner refuses to pay the agreed-upon final invoice. In this situation, the roofing company could file a laborer's lien against the house. This lien would serve as a legal claim on the property, providing the roofers with a way to secure the payment they are owed for their labor, potentially even leading to a forced sale of the property if the debt remains unpaid.

• Commercial Landscaping Installation: A landscaping firm is contracted to design and install an elaborate garden, complete with intricate pathways, planting, and an irrigation system, for a new commercial office park. The project requires many hours of manual labor from their crew. If the developer of the office park experiences financial difficulties and fails to pay the landscaping firm for their completed work, the firm could place a laborer's lien on the office park property. This lien would legally tie the unpaid labor costs to the property, giving the landscaping firm a strong position to recover their compensation.

• Custom Cabinetry and Installation: A skilled carpenter is commissioned to hand-build and install custom kitchen cabinets in a client's home. The work involves precise measurements, intricate woodworking, and careful installation, representing many hours of specialized labor. If, upon completion, the homeowner disputes the final cost and withholds payment, the carpenter could file a laborer's lien against the home. This legal action would protect the carpenter's right to be paid for the labor and craftsmanship invested in improving the property.