2018 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 49 - Mortgages and Liens
Chapter 847 - Liens
Section 49-33 - Mechanic's lien. Precedence. Rights of subcontractors.

(a) If any person has a claim for more than ten dollars for materials furnished or services rendered in the construction, raising, removal or repairs of any building or any of its appurtenances or in the improvement of any lot or in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, and the claim is by virtue of an agreement with or by consent of the owner of the land upon which the building is being erected or has been erected or has been moved, or by consent of the owner of the lot being improved or by consent of the owner of the plot of land being improved or subdivided, or of some person having authority from or rightfully acting for the owner in procuring the labor or materials, the building, with the land on which it stands or the lot or in the event that the materials were furnished or services were rendered in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, then the plot of land, is subject to the payment of the claim.

(b) The claim is a lien on the land, building and appurtenances or lot or in the event that the materials were furnished or services were rendered in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, then on the plot of land and the claim takes precedence over any other encumbrance originating after the commencement of the services, or the furnishing of any such materials, subject to apportionment as provided in section 49-36.

(c) If any such liens exist in favor of two or more persons for materials furnished or services rendered in connection with the same construction, raising, removal or repairs of any building or any of its appurtenances, or in the improvement of any lot, or in the site development or subdivision of any plot of land, no one of those persons shall have any priority over another except as hereinafter provided.

(d) If any instrument constituting a valid encumbrance upon such land other than a mechanic's lien is filed for record while the building is being constructed, raised, removed or repaired, or the lot is being improved, or the plot of land is being improved or subdivided, all such mechanic's liens originating prior to the filing of that instrument for record take precedence over that encumbrance and no such mechanic's lien shall have priority over any other such mechanic's lien. That encumbrance and all such mechanic's liens shall take precedence over any mechanic's lien which originates for materials furnished or services rendered after the filing of that instrument for record, but no one of the mechanic's liens originating after the filing of that instrument for record has precedence over another. If any lienor waives or releases his lien or claim of precedence to any such encumbrance, that lien shall be classed with and have no priority over liens originating subsequent to that encumbrance.

(e) A mechanic's lien shall not attach to any such building or its appurtenances or to the land on which the same stands or to any lot or to any plot of land, in favor of any subcontractor to a greater extent in the whole than the amount which the owner has agreed to pay to any person through whom the subcontractor claims subject to the provisions of section 49-36.

(f) Any such subcontractor shall be subrogated to the rights of the person through whom the subcontractor claims, except that the subcontractor shall have a mechanic's lien or right to claim a mechanic's lien in the event of any default by that person subject to the provisions of sections 49-34, 49-35 and 49-36, provided the total of such lien or liens shall not attach to any building or its appurtenances, or to the land on which the same stands or to any lot or to any plot of land, to a greater amount in the whole than the amount by which the contract price between the owner and the person through whom the subcontractor claims exceeds the reasonable cost, either estimated or actual, as the case may be, of satisfactory completion of the contract plus any damages resulting from such default for which that person might be held liable to the owner and all bona fide payments, as defined in section 49-36, made by the owner before receiving notice of such lien or liens.

(g) In the case of the removal of any building, no such mechanic's lien shall take precedence over any encumbrance upon the land to which such building has been removed which accrued before the building was removed upon the land.

(h) If any person has a claim for more than ten dollars for materials furnished or services rendered in the construction, raising, removal or repairs of any real property, and the claim is by virtue of an agreement with or by consent of the lessee of such real property or of some person having authority from or rightfully acting for such lessee in procuring the materials or labor, then the leasehold interest in such real property is subject to the payment of the claim. This subsection shall not be construed to limit any of the rights or remedies available to such person under subsection (a) of this section.

(i) Any mechanic's lien may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage.

(1949 Rev., S. 7217; 1949, 1953, S. 2973d; P.A. 74-310, S. 1; P.A. 79-602, S. 86; P.A. 99-153, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 74-310 applied provisions with respect to improvement of lots, site improvements and subdivisions of land; P.A. 79-602 divided section into Subsecs. and restated provisions but made no substantive changes; P.A. 99-153 added new Subsec. (h) to allow mechanic's liens to attach to leasehold interests without limiting existing lien rights or remedies and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly.

See Sec. 49-9 re form of release of mechanic's liens.

Attaching creditors take subject to the lien for work done and to be done under a contract; a lien covers all the land required for the convenient use of the building. 18 C. 347. The rules of equity concerning mortgages apply to mechanics' liens. 23 C. 355; 26 C. 319; 29 C. 265. Statute in force in 1852 did not extend to a subcontractor, who performed services or furnished materials on the credit of the original contractor, without the owner's assent. 23 C. 545; Id., 635. A lien may be enforced against the husband's interest in his wife's land, for work ordered by him without her assent. Id., 569. No lien for work or materials furnished without the authority or assent of the owner. 27 C. 577. There can be no lien for fitting up an existing mill with machinery. 29 C. 267. Whether notes received in payment of the claim will discharge the lien. Id.; 30 C. 475. As statute prefers certain creditors over the rest, it should be somewhat strictly construed. Id., 474. Materialmen are entitled to this lien, although furnishing no labor. Id., 471. Unless the materials are both furnished and used for a particular building, materialmen are not entitled to lien if they furnish no labor. Id.; 91 C. 717. Taking the owner's note on time for the amount due does not discharge the lien. 39 C. 354. Putting furnaces into a house may give a lien. Id., 363. Where work is done upon a block of houses upon a single lot under one entire contract, the builder's lien extends to the whole block. 41 C. 361. Statute applies to buildings of a railroad company. Id., 454. A lien does not necessarily pass by endorsement of a note given for the claim secured by the lien. Id., 522; 80 C. 400. Lien may be filed and foreclosed by an agent, as such, without disclosing principal. Id., 95. Question of priority between mechanic's lien and mortgage. Id., 36; 58 C. 511; 115 C. 703; 116 C. 273; 130 C. 367. Where one erects a building on land of another, with the latter's consent, a lien for work and materials attaches to the building and the rights of its owner in the soil, but does not affect the rights of the landowner. 42 C. 95. Where materials were furnished, under separate contracts for two houses being built by the same builder upon adjoining lots and no separate account of materials for each house was kept, a single lien on both houses for the whole debt was invalid. Id., 292; 76 C. 382; 78 C. 475; 89 C. 527; Id., 554; 91 C. 169; Id., 717. Lien for materials and work under single contract may cover two adjoining lots used together. 44 C. 349. Lien for amount largely in excess of debt, so made by mistake, good for amount actually due. Id.; 51 C. 177, 440; 91 C. 285; 100 C. 344. Where husband directs work to be done on wife's land, with her knowledge, but without her request, lien holds only husband's interest. 45 C. 563; 46 C. 558; 58 C. 445; 62 C. 75. Immaterial whether materialman files certificate of lien before giving notice of intent, provided both are done within statutory limits. 46 C. 386. Correction of date of certificate allowed on foreclosure hearing. 47 C. 83. Wife's lease for 999 years is not liable to a lien for buildings erected on the land under contract with husband. 49 C. 27. Lien securing outlawed claim cannot be enforced. 50 C. 270; 119 C. 359. Lien need not state full amount of labor and materials furnished, but only balance due; various points about liens. 51 C. 177. Whether under stated facts agent had authority to act for owner. 52 C. 532; 96 C. 229. Lien for erection of farm buildings held to cover whole farm. 59 C. 296; 98 C. 747. It is essential to the validity of a single lien upon separate buildings that they shall be erected for some general and connected use. 61 C. 578. Nature of foreclosure and rights thereunder; 68 C. 413; where wife owns house but husband makes contracts. 70 C. 74; 71 C. 77. Lien may exist though contractor's right to payment is deferred by contract. 69 C. 228. Rights after partnership performing work is dissolved. 72 C. 378. Meaning of “appurtenances” artesian well; 73 C. 318; addition to building; 87 C. 316. Statutes to be favorably construed. 73 C. 320, but see 81 C. 632. Power of one who takes possession of land under agreement to build house to subject land to lien. 74 C. 113. Lien takes precedence over mortgage given after it attaches but before certificate is recorded; parties to foreclosure. Id., 113; 80 C. 392. Priorities as between vendor of property and lienor. 74 C. 114; 115 C. 362. Waiver of lien by agreement; 79 C. 247; 115 C. 363; taking mortgage; 76 C. 382; or note; 87 C. 316; 107 C. 425; or both; 110 C. 670. History of statutes. 76 C. 107. Assignment of lien carries debt with it. 80 C. 400. Lien does not extend to public buildings. 81 C. 632; 90 C. 13. Words “by virtue of an agreement” construed. 83 C. 91; 90 C. 651. Priorities where mortgage for future advances provides that any payments may be withheld in case of lien. 84 C. 326. One who buys land after lien attaches but before certificate is filed takes subject to it. 87 C. 316; 90 C. 651. Agreement of parties cannot give effect to invalid lien. 89 C. 526. Receiver may file. 90 C. 7. Court cannot adjudicate validity of a lien unless owner of property is a party. Id., 16. Surveyor employed before any right to property is acquired cannot have lien which will take precedence of purchase price mortgage. 91 C. 165. No right to lien in contractor who has assigned all interest in contract to another. 97 C. 723. Under former statute, claims of original contractors were payable in order of commencement of services or furnishing of materials. 99 C. 349. When architect has right to lien. 100 C. 342. No lien for electric light fixtures. 101 C. 3. Waiver of all liens “we now have or hereafter may have” construed. Id., 90. Contract to purchase land with a house to be erected by seller held to make seller “original contractor”. 104 C. 657. Lien of subcontractor not impaired by secret agreement between owner and contractor as to book credits. 111 C. 132. Lease which included option to purchase a “valid encumbrance”. 113 C. 328. Subcontractor's right of lien depends on existence of such right in original contractor. Id., 347. Separate certificates not required on same lienable unit of land and buildings. Id., 350. Cited. 115 C. 497. Foreclosure of lien; taking possession not necessary to appropriation. 120 C. 16. Where contractor without fault of owner abandons contract before its substantial completion, so that nothing is due him under contract, the subcontractors have no lien for labor or materials. 139 C. 642. No lien exists for repairs on installation not found to be a permanent fixture. 141 C. 188. Claim that materials need only be furnished and not used is untenable. 143 C. 146. Installation of fixtures gives rise to a mechanic's lien only if fixtures become part of realty. 144 C. 499. Cited. 161 C. 242; 168 C. 371; 169 C. 76; 172 C. 1; 180 C. 501. Work done in road construction and site preparation held not lienable under statute prior to 1974 amendment. 180 C. 545. Second tier subcontractor can be subrogated to general contractor's claims against owner even where first tier contractor has been fully paid. 181 C. 592. Cited. 182 C. 568. Challenge by general contractor to constitutionality of mechanic's lien statutes discussed. 185 C. 583. Not intended to allow filing of mechanics liens by attorneys providing assistance in zoning and other matters related to real estate. 217 C. 361. Cited. 219 C. 810; 224 C. 563; Id., 580; 230 C. 807; 242 C. 211. Contracting property owner must hold title to or have equitable interest in the land at time work is commenced. 243 C. 601.

Cited. 5 CA 106; 6 CA 180; 27 CA 199; 31 CA 485; 37 CA 547; 39 CA 544. Removal of underground storage tank and remediation of contaminated soil were services and materials within the construct of statute. 77 CA 474. Legislature intended to extend benefits under mechanic's lien statute to an architect who provides architectural services; architectural services satisfied the physical enhancement test, thus evidencing direct association with the physical construction or improvement of defendant's real property. 103 CA 710. Defendant, despite having paid general contractor the original contract price in full, still owed general contractor for “extras” and therefore a lienable fund existed and subcontractor's lien was not invalid. 136 CA 184. The dictates of this section and Sec. 49-17 must trump those in Sec. 47-10, and therefore a valid assignee of a mortgage note has standing to foreclose irrespective of whether that assignee records the assignment prior to instituting the action. 167 CA 183.

Cited. 4 CS 432; 10 CS 57. Owner's interest in real property not subject to mechanic's lien where owner merely consented that work be done and was not a party to the contract or a guarantor of it. 13 CS 196. Cited. 15 CS 360. Materialman's right to foreclose a mechanic's lien upheld where owner had knowledge of and consented to lessee's improvement of property. 19 CS 55. Nature of consent discussed. 20 CS 460. Reformation of a mechanic's lien is legally impossible unless there is mutual mistake or unilateral mistake coupled with fraud or inequitable conduct. 22 CS 230. One for whose benefit a mechanic's lien is waived may enforce the waiver; the binding effect of a waiver in a subcontract of the right to a mechanic's lien is not obviated by the contractor's breach of contract. Id., 293. Cited. 23 CS 380; 27 CS 203; 34 CS 638; 42 CS 460.

Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 622.

Subsec. (a):

Owner's permission for lessee to perform leasehold improvements did not constitute the consent required by statute. 193 C. 290. Cited. Id., 580, 586; 235 C. 595. Surveying and engineering services are lienable. 243 C. 601. Where removal of contractor's equipment necessarily involves repair to building, such repair is a lienable service. 247 C. 234.

Cited. 9 CA 682; 15 CA 633; 44 CA 240. Based on facts presented, plaintiff's services were not lienable under section. 51 CA 773. Benefit fund acting on behalf of those who performed services qualifies as “any person who has a claim” under Subsec. and thus has standing to sue; in a mechanic's lien foreclosure action, plaintiff must allege only that defendant consented to have work done, and plaintiff is not required to plead that defendant was aware of the terms of the agreement, or that defendant agreed to make payment for services or failed to make payments. 83 CA 352. Consent under Subsec. is consent that indicates an agreement that owner of at least the land shall be, or may be, liable for the materials or labor. 125 CA 561.

Subsec. (f):

Cited. 23 CA 453; 27 CA 199. Subrogation language should not be interpreted to bar claims of subcontractors who were not involved in the formation of an invalid contract between the general contractor and the homeowner. 136 CA 184.