Housing: Information on Defective Drywall.

摘要

The rebuilding of damaged homes following multiple hurricanes that struck the southeast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States from 2004 through 2008, combined with new home construction, led to a shortage of American-made gypsum wallboard (drywall). To satisfy demand, some companies involved with construction began importing drywall from foreign manufacturers. In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)--the lead agency investigating this issuewas informed of high levels of hydrogen sulfide emissions in certain drywall imported from China. From 2008 through 2013, CPSC received over 4,000 complaints related to this defective drywall. Some home owners impacted by defective drywall filed insurance claims through their home owners insurance policies or sued foreign manufacturers and other companies responsible for the distribution or installation of the drywall. Settlements from litigation against parties other than the home owners insurance companies are in progress. GAO was asked to review alternative methods of providing relief from damage associated with defective drywall. This report describes (1) what is known about reimbursements home owners have received from insurance companies for damage from defective drywall and (2) what other efforts have been undertaken to help address home owners damage associated with defective drywall. To address these objectives, GAO reviewed defective drywall settlement information, federal and state legislative efforts, and met with officials from select federal agencies, industry associations, state agencies, among others.