HARTFORD — Homeowners in Connecticut may be getting some help for crumbling foundations.
Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen said Wednesday the state has reached a deal with a handful of insurance companies to finance a program meant to compensate affected homeowners.
The program is still being finalized but it could provide homeowners up to 90 percent of the cost of replacing the damaged foundations.
Jepsen said just four of the 29 insurance companies working in impacted communities in Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties have so far agreed to take part. The Hartford, Travelers, Amica, and an unnamed company will form a pool from which victims can recoup some repair costs.
Over 200 homeowners have filed complaints with the state about failing foundations. Officials have traced the problem to concrete mix from a quarry in Willington that may contain high levels of pyrrhotite, a mineral believed to be a major factor in the crumbling foundations.
The news is a welcome change for neighbors like Timothy Heim of Willington who is also the President of the Connecticut Coalition Against Crumbling Basements.
"Unless you have this problem you have no idea what we're going through and it's really a kick in the face," said Heim, but was skeptical. "I've been paying my insurance premiums for many many years at 100%. Why would I settle for 80, 90% of my insurance claim?"
If you think your home foundation might have this type of foundation, you can file a complaint here.
The DCP also set up an e-mail address specifically for questions about this issue, residents are encouraged to e-mail DCP.concrete@ct.gov.
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