Homes containing defective drywall manufactured in China are at the center of a legal battle in Florida, according to the Sun Sentinel newspaper.
A hazardous chemical emitted by the drywall in question can produce a number of harmful effects, including respiratory problems, metal corrosion, and a foul odor, the newspaper said.
Homeowners insurance companies have systematically denied claims for drywall-affected houses, the Sun Sentinel reports, and even the state’s insurer of last resort has had a mixed record on the issue. In the case of one homeowner, the insurer has reversed its position several times, canceling coverage and reinstating it at least twice over, the second time without even inspecting the home again.
The head of that company, Citizens Property Insurance, was recently questioned by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson about the firm’s inconsistency in paying for repairs necessitated by the defective drywall.
Home insurance consumers need to make sure they read the fine print of their policies, experts say, in order to familiarize themselves with the details of what is and isn’t covered.
