Group fights for homeowners' rights
“In the face of defective construction, homeowners have virtually no ability to protect their investments,” said Rob Thompson of the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group.NCPIRG is pushing for a homeowners’ bill of rights...The bill of rights would hold builders accountable for defects for up to 10 years.
News 14 Carolina
Group fights for homeowners' rights
4/4/2006
By: Brittany Morehouse,
 |  | | |  | | | | | | | | Housing Market
News 14's Brittany Morehouse has more on the push for a homeowners' bill of rights in this onscene report.
 
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The North Carolina housing market has been booming as of late, but one nonprofit group says new homeowners need more protection.“In the face of defective construction, homeowners have virtually no ability to protect their investments,” said Rob Thompson of the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group. NCPIRG is pushing for a homeowners’ bill of rights. |  | | | The bill of rights would hold builders accountable for defects for up to 10 years. | |
“Homes are the nucleus of our society. They’re where North Carolinians raise their children and build their families,” Thompson said. “Unfortunately, homeowners in North Carolina don’t have the ability to protect the most important investments of their lives. |  | | | Rob Thompson of the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group says homeowners are not able to protect their investments. | |
Homeowner Chris Gilbert says county code inspectors also need to be held more accountable. He says his missed a list of violations and a state inspector later deemed his house unacceptable.The bill of rights would include a measure that would require contractors to own a license for building. “It’s very easy to get into this line of work – a hammer and a business card,” said Tom Bartholomy of the Better Business Bureau. It would also hold builders accountable for defects for up to 10 years, something that would have helped Bill Richardson. His concrete foundation began splitting after the six-year mark and he was left to spend more than $8,000 out of his own pocket to fix it. “We thought that we were protected,” he said. “We thought if a county inspector came in, he’d see any code violations and make the builder build it right.” Homeowners who want to check on the qualifications of their builders are urged to call the Better Business Bureau before they buy.
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/local_news/gaston/?AC=&ArID=116952&SecID=7 |
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