Mechanic's Lien

What it means

A mechanic's lien is a claim that a contractor or supplier files against a property when they are not paid for work they did. The lien attaches to the house or building — not to the homeowner personally. It shows up when the owner tries to sell or refinance. The lien must be filed within a certain number of months after the work was done. If the lien is not resolved, the contractor can go to court to force a sale of the property to get paid. Homeowners can protect themselves by getting lien waivers from subcontractors before making final payment to the general contractor.

When you might hear this

This comes up when a contractor, plumber, electrician, or material supplier does work on a house or building and does not get paid. They can file a mechanic's lien, which is a legal claim against the property.

What to ask