I always tell them that the client is required by law to give them a copy and if they don't, call me and I will forward the lender a copy of the law.
Bottom line though, if they insist or they take you to small claims court, I would give them an copy. I wish I had a nickel for every guy who told me a homeowner took him to Small Claims Court and the judge didn't want to hear anything about USPAP.
"He gave you money? Then give him the appraisal".
Here's something that might help:
12 CFR Part 202
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B);
§ 202.14 Rules on providing appraisal
reports.
(a) Providing appraisals. A creditor shall provide a copy of an appraisal report used in connection with an application for credit that is to be secured by a lien on a dwelling. A creditor shall comply with either paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section.
(1) Routine delivery. A creditor may routinely provide a copy of an appraisal report to an applicant (whether credit is granted or denied or the application is withdrawn).
(2) Upon request. A creditor that does not routinely provide appraisal reports shall provide a copy upon an applicant’s written request.
(i) Notice. A creditor that provides appraisal reports only upon request shall notify an applicant in writing of the right to receive a copy of an appraisal report. The notice may be given at any time during the application process but no later than when the creditor provides notice of action taken under § 202.9 of this regulation. The notice shall specify that the applicant’s request must be in writing, give the creditor’s mailing address, and state the time for making the request as provided in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section.
(ii) Delivery. A creditor shall mail or deliver a copy of the appraisal report promptly (generally within 30 days) after the creditor receives an applicant’s request, receives the report, or receives reimbursement from the applicant for the report, whichever is last to occur. A creditor need not provide a copy when the applicant’s request is received more than 90 days after the creditor has provided notice of action taken on the application under § 202.9 of this regulation or 90 days after the application is withdrawn.
(b) Credit unions. A creditor that is subject to the regulations of the National Credit Union Administration on making copies of appraisal reports available is not subject to this section.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of paragraph (a) of this section, the term dwelling means a residential structure that contains one to four units whether or not that structure is attached to real property. The term includes, but is not limited to, an individual condominium or cooperative unit, and a mobile or other manufactured home. The term appraisal report means the document(s) relied upon by a creditor in evaluating the value of the dwelling.
Comments:
Section 202.14—Rules on Providing
Appraisal Reports
14(a) Providing appraisals.
1. Coverage. This section covers applications for credit to be secured by a lien on a dwelling, as that term is defined in § 202.14(c), whether the credit is for a business purpose (for example, a loan to start a business) or a consumer purpose (for example, a loan to finance a child’s education).
2. Renewals. This section applies when an applicant requests the renewal of an existing extension of credit and the creditor obtains a new appraisal report. This section does not apply when a creditor uses the appraisal report previously obtained to evaluate the renewal request.
14(a)(2)(i) Notice.
1. Multiple applicants. When an application that is subject to this section involves more than one applicant, the notice about the appraisal report need only be given to one applicant, but it must be given to the primary applicant where one is readily apparent.
14(a)(2)(ii) Delivery.
1. Reimbursement. Creditors may charge for photocopy and postage costs incurred in providing a copy of the appraisal report, unless prohibited by state or other law. If the consumer has already paid for the report—for example, as part of an application fee—the creditor may not require additional fees for the appraisal (other than photocopy and postage costs).
14(c) Definitions.
1. Appraisal reports. Examples of appraisal reports are:
i. A report prepared by an appraiser (whether or not licensed or certified), including written comments and other documents submitted to the creditor in support of the appraiser’s estimate or opinion of the property’s value.
ii. A document prepared by the creditor’s staff that assigns value to the property, if a third-party appraisal report has not been used.
iii. An internal review document reflecting that the creditor’s valuation is different from a valuation in a third party’s appraisal report (or different from valuations that are publicly available or valuations such as manufacturers’ invoices for mobile homes).
2. Other reports. The term ‘‘appraisal report’’ does not cover all documents relating to the value of the applicant’s property. Examples of reports not covered are:
i. Internal documents, if a third-party appraisal report was used to establish the value of the property.
ii. Governmental agency statements of appraised value.
iii. Valuations lists that are publicly available (such as published sales prices or mortgage amounts, tax assessments, and retail price ranges) and valuations such as manufacturers’ invoices for mobile homes.
