Miami-Dade has launched a new partnership with PACE financing provider Ygrene aimed at strengthening consumer protections and identifying contractor fraud involving home improvement financing programs.<\/p>\n
The initiative will improve communication between Ygrene and the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office<\/a>, allowing the two organizations to share information about contractor complaints, identify potentially fraudulent or deceptive practices, and help ensure contractors participating in Property Assessed Clean Energy<\/a> (PACE) programs comply with licensing requirements and consumer protection laws.<\/p>\n PACE programs allow homeowners to finance eligible property improvements like impact windows, roofs, air-conditioning systems, generators, solar panels and other energy-efficiency or hurricane-resiliency projects, with the cost repaid over time through a non-ad valorem assessment on their annual property tax bill.<\/p>\n Ygrene<\/a> is one of several companies that administer PACE financing programs in Florida.<\/p>\n PACE financing has drawn increased scrutiny in Florida in recent years following consumer complaints involving some contractors and financing practices. In 2023, Miami-Dade commissioners considered terminating the County’s agreement with the Green Corridor PACE District<\/a>, which administers Ygrene’s PACE program, but later withdrew the proposal after discussions shifted toward strengthening consumer protections rather than ending the program.<\/p>\n “PACE programs can help homeowners make critical improvements to their properties, but residents must be fully protected from fraud, deception, and abuse,” Fernandez said<\/a>. “By partnering with Ygrene, we are creating a stronger system to identify bad actors, respond to complaints, and protect the residents of Miami-Dade County.”<\/p>\n According to the Tax Collector’s Office, the partnership will focus on contractors accused of deceptive sales practices, providing misleading information, misrepresenting financing costs, obtaining authorizations improperly, failing to complete contracted work, or otherwise violating applicable laws or program requirements.<\/p>\n