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Tax break possible for Chinese drywall victims

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By SHERRI LONON

THE SUN

Published: August 12, 2009

As homeowners affected by Chinese drywall face a number of uncertainties, one thing seems clear: their properties are not worth as much as they used to be.

With remediation costs that can run well into the tens of thousands, financial assistance is needed by many. To this end, the Hillsborough County Property Appraisers Office is working on a plan to do its part.

"Obviously, this issue is so new there's not a lot of precedence on what to do with it," said Tim Wilmath, director of valuation for the office. "We understand that this is a significant problem."

The appraiser's office's plan will address how to identify property affected by substandard drywall and will also look at new valuations, Wilmath said. These could lead to a lowering of the property taxes owed by homeowners affected by Chinese drywall.

At issue is drywall imported from China that may emit a corrosive gas. It is blamed for damaging appliances, corroding wiring and air-conditioning coils and might cause of some health complaints. The extent, severity and implications of the problem remain under investigation by both state and federal agencies.

Builders in the United States used imported drywall heavily between 2003 and 2007, especially after Hurricane Katrina. The Florida Department of Health has received hundreds of complaints from homeowners. It is believed the drywall was used in as many as 100,000 homes nationwide, some in Hillsborough County.

Wilmath said one of the biggest problems his office faces is how to determine if a home has been affected. While environmental companies do offer inspections, those costs can prove to be more than homeowners can handle, he said.

"In order for a homeowner to absolutely, accurately determine if they have the kind of drywall that is causing this problem, they have to hire an environmental company," he said. The costs can run between $2,000 and $3,000. "There are others out there, but these folks aren't necessarily licensed. We do not want to send a homeowner to one of these companies that may not be qualified to make a determination, but we don't want to force them to have to pay thousands of dollars (either)."

One of the options the county office is considering involves training its own staff to identify homes impacted by Chinese drywall. That option, however, might not be the final solution, Wilmath said.

As the property appraisers office continues to look into the issue, Sun City Center and Kings Points residents are working on a list of affected properties. The Sun City Center Community Association and the Kings Point Federation have come together to create the Greater Sun City Chinese Drywall Coordinating Group. This committee is monitoring all aspects of identification, remediation and even safety issues related to Chinese drywall.

"We want to be proactive," explained Woody Nelson, co-chairman of the group.

Nelson said inspections are taking place in both communities. He anticipates about 75 homes will end up testing positive, but expects more to be discovered as time passes.

"The estimated cost of a 2,000-square-foot house is $100,000 to remediate," Nelson said. "It's a lot of money. It's a lot of heartbreak. What really breaks my heart is that many of these people sold their homes up north to move down here. They took equity (out of those homes), and when they go to sell they have to disclose about Chinese drywall. Who's going to want to buy your house?"

Nelson said his committee asked the property appraiser's office to look into the issue of valuation. It is also creating a list of properties that have tested positive.

Homeowners in Kings Point and Sun City Center who suspect they have Chinese drywall issues can contact Michael J. Ryan, the attorney representing many area homeowners, at (954) 763-8181 or visit krupnicklaw.com. His office is helping facilitate inspections in communities constructed by WCI, said Dee Giordano, a member of the Chinese drywall committee.

The property appraisers office expects to have a plan in place in the near future, Wilmath said.

Sherri Lonon can be reached at slonon@mediageneral.com or at (813) 731-1976.

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