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Can a homeowner file an MHIC complaint after your warranty ends?

Short answer. Yes. Your contractual warranty may have ended, but the MHIC has its own time limits for complaints under COMAR 09.08.01.13, and a workmanship defect can still be actionable. A goodwill repair is usually the cheaper path.

  • COMAR 09.08.01.13

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

A homeowner calls to complain about work you did 18 months ago. Cracked tile in a bathroom remodel. They want it fixed under warranty.

You check your contract — the workmanship warranty was for 12 months. But they're also threatening an MHIC complaint.

  1. Smart approach

    Your contractual warranty may be 12 months, but COMAR 09.08.01.13 has its own time limitations for filing complaints with the MHIC. A goodwill repair costs you a few hundred dollars. Fighting a complaint costs thousands in time, stress, and potential license impact. Also: cracked tile at 18 months might indicate an underlying substrate or installation issue that goes beyond cosmetic warranty.

  2. Technically correct but risky

    Your contractual warranty has expired. However, the MHIC can still receive and investigate complaints under its own timeline (COMAR 09.08.01.13). Workmanship defects that manifest within a reasonable time may still be actionable. More practically: a rigid refusal over a tile repair can generate negative reviews, an MHIC investigation, and reputation damage worth far more than the cost of fixing some tiles.

All 15 complaints, warranties & the guaranty fund questions

  1. What is the MHIC Guaranty Fund?
  2. What happens if you ignore an MHIC complaint letter?
  3. Can a homeowner file an MHIC complaint after your warranty ends?
  4. Is a two-day delay grounds for an MHIC complaint?
  5. How should you prepare for an MHIC disciplinary hearing?
  6. What counts as project abandonment?
  7. How do you respond to an MHIC abandonment complaint?
  8. What documentation defends you against an MHIC complaint?
  9. How should you handle a warranty callback?
  10. Does your warranty cover damage the homeowner caused?
  11. What do you owe a client in an after-hours warranty emergency?
  12. How do you run a final walkthrough and punch list?
  13. What should a project completion package include?
  14. How do you handle a client disappointed with finished work?
  15. Who is liable when a flip buyer finds unpermitted work?