Bus. & Prof. Code §7159 requires home improvement contracts to include the approximate dates when work will begin and when it will be substantially complete. If the contractor fails to commence the work within a reasonable time from the agreed start date, the consumer's primary remedy is to:
Explanation
Under Bus. & Prof. Code §7159(c)(3)(B)(iv), the home improvement contract must state approximate dates of commencement and completion, and §7107 makes 'abandonment of any construction project or operation without legal excuse' a ground for license discipline. §7113 (failure to complete a project for the price stated) and §7116 (willful or fraudulent acts) provide further enforcement teeth. Courts and the CSLB therefore treat an unjustified failure to start within a reasonable time as a material breach. There is no automatic state forfeiture of the down payment, and the consumer need not wait for the original end date — commencement within a reasonable time is itself a contractual obligation under §7159.
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