The homeowners of D.R. Horton Homes say that their properties are already falling apart just a few months after moving in.
Homes Falling Apart
D.R. Horton built new homes in Berkeley County, South Carolina. However, the homeowners say the new homes are practically falling apart just a few months after moving in. Dave Preston and his wife said everything was horrific when they moved in in April 2022. Outlets didn’t work, parts of the property were unfinished, and toilets were backing up.
Preston said that D.R. Horton was trying to do too much, too quickly. The developer was building new properties across the Lowcountry. However, as the demand for more neighborhoods grew, homeowners started having more issues with their new homes.
According to Preston, the home also had problems with the septic system, which was backing up. It needed an overhaul after just a few months. He also said that D.R. Horton blamed the residents, saying they took too many showers and that the septic system could not manage the load. He added that things should work as the development was supposed to be a beautiful neighborhood with relatively expensive homes.
Preston contacted a Lowcountry inspector named Robert Knowles in March 2023. The inspection report noted issues in almost every part of the property: doors were incorrectly installed, pipes were missing, the roof’s structural integrity was compromised, the insulation was too thin, and there were several code violations.
Berkeley County Inspection
Despite the numerous problems, a Berkeley County inspector approved the property in March 2022 — a month before Preston moved in. The Berkeley County Building Official Hank Jackson responded to Knowles’ report. Jackson said the inspectors look at the home on a specific date, and it’s out of their hands after the final approval.
According to Jackson, these home inspection reports are usually done 1-2 years after the final inspection. They encounter many cases where things have changed. A Freedom of Information Act request revealed an email from Berkeley County in 2023. The email showcased that the deputy supervisor addressed problems with the developer that had appeared through building codes and the neighborhood.
The supervisor recommended that the county thoroughly review D.R. Horton’s performance and discuss what tools to use to address the issues. However, a year later, new D.R. Horton constructions still appear nationwide. Jackson said they are constantly addressing things but cannot make D.R. Horton do anything. It falls to state regulation if builders want to halt and not do something.
Problems In Other Neighborhoods
Preston is not facing these issues alone. Others outside of Berkeley County are experiencing something similar. Scott Molway and his family moved into a neighborhood in Summerville in 2021. The home was built in 2019. Only 2 months after the move-in, the roof buckled.
Molway said the builder did not use the right materials and nails when installing the shingles. The roof buckled two more times in February 2023 and January 2024. The Molways lost 70 shingles, and the inside of their office was damaged. Moreover, the whole ceiling needed replacing.
Their most recent problem cost $17,500. Molway says builders are no longer building homes for months and years. Instead, they pop up, and the builders are gone immediately. The homeowner shoulders all the problems, and they are unaware of all the shoddy work behind the scenes. Despite these issues, a Town of Summerville inspector approved the home in 2019.
Lawsuits Against D.R. Horton
Several lawsuits were filed against D.R. Horton throughout South Carolina, many of which are in Berkeley County. Homeowners filed these lawsuits, alleging improperly installed roofs and persistent drainage issues that resulted in significant damage to their homes.
Homeowners in the French Quarter neighborhood, where Preston lives, filed a class-action lawsuit involving the septic tank. The lawsuit states that the whole community’s drainage is failing. Hundreds of people are involved in the lawsuit. This drainage failure will eventually lead to fluid and gas permeating the surface of yards and making the homes uninhabitable.
Myk Barbero is another home buyer who moved into a Summerville home in 2019. However, they had to pay thousands of dollars to repair the roof. Despite these issues, a Summerville inspector approved the house again in 2019.
D.R. Horton responded to the report, stating that they are committed to providing quality customer service. They also said that they are unaware of outstanding warranty items at the referenced addresses, and they encourage homeowners with concerns to contact them directly at their local division by emailing charlestonwarranty@drhorton.com.
