Homeowners anticipate TRCC probe outcome The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which was created two years ago by the legislature to help homeowners and homebuilders resolve their differences, has been placed under investigation to the interest of many homeowners. The investigation of the agency is scheduled to be completed in the next few weeks and New 8 found most everyone News 8 talked to wanted the results made public. Video Byron Harris reports
Homeowners anticipate TRCC probe outcome By BYRON HARRIS / WFAA-TV Monday, January 9, 2006
WFAA-TV A quarter fits into one of several cracks in Chris Wanken's home. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which was created two years ago by the legislature to help homeowners and homebuilders resolve their differences, has been placed under investigation to the interest of many homeowners. The investigation of the agency is scheduled to be completed in the next few weeks and New 8 found most everyone News 8 talked to wanted the results made public. Whether the information will be made public, however, will most likely show just how powerful the homebuilding industry is. Chris Wanken, who faced what he may call a home building nightmare, would be high on the list of those who would like to see the results of the investigation. Wanken's floors have quarter-sized cracks throughout his home and there is a hole in his wall that was never fixed by his contractor. In fact, blue tape has been placed throughout the home, which marks spots where he said there are defects he would like fixed. Wanken took the dispute with their contractor to the Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC) months ago and said they are no closer to having things resolved than before. The Wanken's aren't alone in their battle against contractors. More than a year ago, Lisa and Brian Partington asked the TRCC to investigate homebuilder Robert Tidwell. Only five weeks ago did they receive a response from the TRCC who wrote them back and said it couldn't do anything about their case because Tidwell had declared bankruptcy. But despite his checkered record, the TRCC said Tidwell's registration status as a Texas builder has been pending for the last nine months. Representative Todd Smith of Bedford asked the comptroller's office to investigate the TRCC and Carole Keeton Strayhorn is doing that. But now Representative David Swinford of Dumas has asked whether that's any of her business and said he wants a ruling from the Attorney General as to whether the comptroller can do such an investigation. "I just want to know whether the comptroller has jurisdiction over this issue," Swinford said. Wanken said fighting for his house has been a full time job. As part of the fight, he said he's discovered that homebuilders had a major role in shaping the TRCC. E-mail
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