TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

County Makes Amends To Mom Mired In Home Repair Fiasco

ADVERTISEMENT

By MIKE SALINERO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

TAMPA - Angelic House was ecstatic when she learned she could get her storm-damaged home fixed through Hillsborough County's housing rehabilitation program.

The program uses state and federal grant money to renovate substandard housing for homeowners who fit low- and moderate-income guidelines. In return for the help, the county puts a lien on the property that will only be enforced if the home is sold or transferred to other owners.

Instead of the perfect solution, though, House and her family were forced from their home for months with repairs half done and unpaid subcontractors demanding their money. A single mother with four children and a home day care business, House had to fight off lawyers threatening to foreclose on her house.

She blames the county. Last week, county officials said she was right, and in an unusual move, promised to pay off the liens against her home and represent her in any legal action brought by the subcontractors.

"Mrs. House is in this mess because of us," Commissioner Rose Ferlita said. "We are the guardian, if you would, of how this project is supposed to work. It hasn't worked for her."

Dexter Barge, director of the Code Enforcement Department, apologized to House and the commission for mishandling the situation.

"I'm very saddened that it happened," Barge said. "I wish there was a way we could reverse it, but at this point we can't."

Frustration, Threatening Letters

House's problems started in 2005 when winds from Tropical Storm Arlene damaged the roof on her home in Progress Village, a subdivision south of Tampa. Water entered the house through the ruined roof, causing extensive damage to the interior.

Her homeowners insurance paid for a new roof but not for the interior damage. She and her children were forced to move out and rent a home. The previous year, House had applied to the county's rehab program for help with what she termed "minor repairs." While waiting to be accepted by the program, the storm hit. A county rehabilitation inspector documented the damage and what needed to be repaired.

The next year, the county was ready to loan the money for the work, and House signed a contract May 18, 2006, with Small Construction Services to be the general contractor. House visited the work site several times a week. She was appalled at what she saw.

"That man just tore down everything," House said. "He gutted the house where you could walk from one side to the next. He wasn't authorized to do that. I just remember coming in and crying."

Four months later, House fired the company. In a letter to the county, House said Small had "half gutted the house," making it impossible for electricians to get to old wiring.

Bennie Small, owner of Small Construction Services, could not be reached for comment. Attorney Anthony Livingston, who wrote a letter to the county on Small's behalf demanding $28,961 payment for work he did on House's home, said he doesn't currently represent Small and can't speak for him.

House fired Small in September. He had contracted to do the work for $45,000 and was to have completed the project in 55 days. County inspectors said he completed less than a third of the work and the county paid him $12,150.

Already stressed by the lack of progress on her home, House learned that two subcontractors had placed liens on her property, saying they hadn't been paid by Small. Then she got letters from lawyers threatening foreclosure.

House said that when the first letters came, she referred them to the county rehabilitation department. She was told not to worry; the subcontractors could not foreclose on her house.

"If liens are placed upon a homesteaded property, the homeowner cannot be thrown out, not matter how big the liens," said Edward Brill, county manager of code enforcement and inspectional services.

House hired a second contractor, Bayside Home Builders, which finished the work. But another lien was placed against the house by a subcontractor who said Bayside didn't pay her. Bayside could not be reached for comment.

County Takes Responsibility

House and her children finally were able to move back home in April. But she was growing increasingly fearful she would lose the house to the liens.

House was frightened enough that she appealed directly to the county commission at the Jan. 3 meeting. She came again two weeks later, then again last week.

Frustrated commissioners clearly wanted her situation resolved. They agreed to pay off the liens and directed the county attorney to represent House in legal actions and liens brought by the subcontractors.

Lanette Glass, who heads the rehabilitation program, said House's problems were an aberration. The county handled 129 housing rehabilitation cases in fiscal year 2007, Glass said. House's case was the only one in which subcontractors were not paid.

"I talked to a counselor who's been here seven years, and she said it had never happened," Glass said.

Rachael Greenstein, assistant county attorney, said her office is negotiating with the subcontractors to get the liens released. The county then will seek reimbursement from the contractors.

House has since resumed her day care business. She said her faith in God kept her sane when she felt like events were unraveling.

"I'm glad I'm home," she said, "but it's been a lot of heartaches and a lot of stress."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT