Kentucky law sets deadlines for lawsuits and complaints about appraisers

People bringing lawsuits or board complaints about appraisers must meet separate filing deadlines. Lawsuit deadlines cover licensed or certified appraisers and companies that arrange appraisals. Board complaints concern violations of Kentucky’s appraiser rules. Fraud and knowing, intentional misrepresentation lawsuits have a five-year limit. Housing discrimination lawsuits must be filed no later than one year after the event or within the time federal law allows. The board complaint deadline does not cover complaints about certain criminal convictions, dishonest or untrustworthy conduct, or discipline in another jurisdiction. If the board suspends an appraiser for at least 30 days or revokes a credential, it may charge actual investigation and proceeding costs up to $10,000. The lawsuit deadline starts when the report is completed and sent to the client. The board complaint deadline starts when the appraisal report or review assignment is sent.

People generally must hold a Kentucky appraiser license or certification to perform property appraisal work. The rules cover appraisal, review, and consulting work in Kentucky. Appraisers may defend the accuracy of their reports but cannot negotiate insurance claims for insured people. Exceptions cover professional assistance, mass appraisals for taxes, court appraisal directives, and Transportation Cabinet employees whose jobs do not require certification. People licensed under other Kentucky laws may work within those licenses. Banks and farm credit institutions may conduct appraisals or reviews in their normal business, except where federal law provides otherwise. The chapter does not cover movable personal property or insurance company representatives settling claims, including licensed adjusters. Licensed appraisers may provide market-value estimates to financial institutions where federal law does not require a licensed appraisal. They must omit their credential status and state that professional appraisal standards do not apply.

Appraisers must renew their credentials every two years and complete at least 28 hours of continuing education. These rules cover licensed and certified appraisers. Education providers also pay board-set fees for course review. Appraisers must complete the latest professional standards update course within the first six months of the license period, or immediately when it becomes available. The Real Property Appraisers Board sets license and service fees through rules. These fees cannot exceed what is needed to fund its work and enforce the chapter. After less than two years of inactive status, appraisers must complete half the required education before returning and the rest within six months. After two or more years, they must show completion of all required hours. An inactive period exceeding three years requires meeting the requirements for an original license or certificate. Renewals are due by the last day of the month designated by the board.

The Real Property Appraisers Board operates as an independent state agency with seven members. The board regulates Kentucky property appraisers and remains attached to the Department of Professional Licensing for administrative purposes. The Governor appoints two general appraisers, two residential appraisers, two lending industry employees, and one public member without business or financial ties to appraisal work. Investigators and appraisal reviewers must be state-certified appraisers with at least ten years of experience, credentials at least equal to the appraiser’s, and experience with the relevant property type. Appraisers may challenge a review or investigation if the reviewer lacks the required credential level or relevant property experience. An executive director taking office on or after the law’s effective date must be a certified general or residential appraiser with at least ten years of Kentucky appraisal experience. Current members keep their remaining terms. The Governor must appoint the two additional members within one year after the law’s effective date.

Property owners may pay people in the listed professional groups to represent them in property tax assessment disputes. Eligible representatives include attorneys, accountants, tax consultants, Kentucky real estate agents, owner employees, and qualifying appraisers. Representatives must present the owner’s written permission stating their professional role and disclose personal or private interests in the matter. At the initial assessment conference, representatives must disclose arrangements that tie their fee to the outcome. Attorneys do not have to disclose the terms of those arrangements.