Washington’s Homeowner Recovery Fund has made its first payments, giving eligible homeowners another place to turn when a court judgment against a contractor remains unpaid.
Labor & Industries said in a Nov. 5 announcement that it had approved five applications and distributed more than $115,000. The program opened July 1.
Who can qualify?
The program covers qualifying losses involving L&I-registered contractors at an owner’s primary residence. You must have owned and occupied the property when the work occurred. Eligible properties are single-family homes or buildings with four or fewer homes; condominiums are excluded. On a multi-unit property, only the unit you live in counts as your primary residence.
You need a final superior-court judgment for a claim against the contractor’s bond, and the judgment must remain partly or wholly unpaid. Applicants must also have pursued recovery against any existing contractor bond. For the judgment date, L&I’s application guidance lists July 1, 2026, or later.
Watch the deadline
L&I’s guidance and denial rule use a 90-day deadline from the final judgment order. The statute describes 90 days after the civil action concludes. If further court proceedings complicate your dates, seek prompt legal advice about the deadline.
What to send
Use the online application linked from L&I’s program page or its mail-in form. Attach a certified judgment, proof of residency such as a deed, mortgage statement or utility bill from the past 60 days, and any applicable bond-payment letter or check. Include payments already received from the contractor or bond company.
For application questions, contact HRF@Lni.wa.gov or 360-902-5699.
What the fund can pay
State law limits payment to qualifying actual damages still unpaid after bond recovery, up to $25,000 per contractor per parcel. Attorney fees, court costs and punitive damages are excluded. Eligibility does not guarantee payment, and funding shortages can mean a waitlist.
Before payment, the law requires assigning judgment rights to L&I to the extent of its payment. Read that paperwork carefully.
Still choosing a contractor? Our home-repair estimate guide covers questions to ask before signing.
Information checked Nov. 5, 2026. Sources: L&I’s announcement, program guidance and application; Washington’s homeowner-recovery law and rules.
