Some Tampa Bay homeowners thought they were in the clear after cutting big checks for new roofs. Instead, they are now staring at construction liens slapped on their properties, clouding titles and threatening to derail home sales or refinancing. The liens stem from claims that a Spring Hill roofer did not pay for materials, even though residents say they have contracts and receipts showing they paid Valor Home Services in full.
An investigation by FOX 13 found 19 construction liens tied to the same supplier and roofer filed across Tampa Bay in 2025. Public records show four of those liens have since been paid and released. The station’s review combined interviews with affected homeowners and county public-record searches.
How Florida liens can reach paid-for homes
Under Florida law, a properly recorded claim of lien creates a legal encumbrance on a property’s title and generally remains valid for one year unless the owner takes action to shorten that timeframe or the lienor files suit to foreclose, according to the Florida Statutes. That means even homeowners who paid their contractor in full can find a lien hanging over their property unless they obtain releases or take the supplier’s claim to court. The timing and notice rules are strict, and any mistakes by a lienor can give a homeowner grounds to challenge a claim.
Homeowners say they are blindsided
Residents caught up in the dispute told investigators the whole thing felt like a punch to the gut. They believed the work was finished, the bills were paid and the roofs were finally off their worry list, until the liens showed up on title searches.
Denise Ippolito told FOX 13 that SRS “says it’s not their problem” and that the lien has left her “not sleeping.” Another homeowner said she paid Valor in full and that the house is “all I have left.”
Who filed the liens and who supplies the materials?
Public-record filings identify SRS Distribution as the supplier behind the claims. According to a Home Depot press release, SRS now operates as a specialty trade distribution unit tied to The Home Depot’s pro business. The roofing company named in the complaints, Valor Home Services, is a locally registered contractor, with licensing information and customer profiles listed on contractor platforms such as BuildZoom.
Legal risks and timelines
Unresolved construction liens are not just paperwork clutter. They can be enforced through foreclosure proceedings, which puts a homeowner’s equity at risk if a court upholds the supplier’s claim, as outlined by The Florida Bar. Because a recorded claim generally expires after one year unless it is challenged or foreclosed, owners facing liens are up against the clock to protect their title and consider options such as lien releases, bonding off the lien or filing a notice of contest.
What homeowners can do now
Homeowners who discover a lien on their property should first obtain a copy of the recorded document from the county clerk’s office and confirm who filed it and for how much. They can then contact the filing party to request a release or waiver and should carefully preserve any contracts, invoices, canceled checks and receipts.
Residents can report contractor issues and check licensing through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and may want to talk with a real-estate or construction attorney about filing a notice of contest of lien or pursuing other remedies. Given Florida’s strict statutory timelines, many attorneys recommend getting legal advice quickly rather than waiting for the problem to sort itself out.
An attorney who briefly represented Valor previously told investigators the company was working to resolve outstanding bills, but that attorney later said he no longer represented the company. With several liens still active, homeowners and title companies are watching public records for releases or court actions that could finally clear the encumbrances and let those new roofs simply be new roofs again.
