Scored 8/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Shoddy Home Bill
New bill forces builders to fix shoddy home construction
PROTECT NEW HOME BUYERS
Good for everyday people ·
This bill gives people who buy newly built homes a guaranteed warranty that forces builders to pay for structural and system defects for up to six years.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
Buying a new home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make. Right now, builders often hide sneaky language in contracts to avoid paying when roofs leak or foundations crack. This bill creates a strict, statewide warranty that builders cannot erase with fine print. It gives buyers up to six years to hold builders accountable for major structural failures. While it does cap the money you can win at the total replacement cost of the house and stops cities from passing their own rules, it is a massive upgrade for consumer rights.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- Creates a mandatory one-year warranty for general construction defects.
- Creates a two-year warranty for plumbing, electrical, and heating system failures.
- Creates a six-year warranty for major structural issues like cracked foundations or failing roofs.
- Makes it illegal for builders to force buyers to sign away these specific warranty rights in their contracts.
- Requires buyers to give the builder written notice within 30 days after the warranty expires to file a claim.
- Caps the maximum payout at the cost to completely rebuild the home, not counting the land.
- Stops local cities from passing their own different rules about new home warranties.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the Illinois Bill Book 2026
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