Leeway in lien law; All buyers should be privy to their exposure.(A SECTION)(Editorial)

A Charlotte County man has a privy and a stack of bills from subcontractors, but little else to show for the $43,000 he paid for the home of his dreams - primarily because he wasn't in privity with the workers hired to actually build his house.

Sound confusing? Indeed, Florida's construction-lien law is so arcane that, unless a prospective homeowner has a representative schooled in the law, he could be required to pay construction bills twice.

Privity refers to the existence of a relationship or contract between parties. In Florida, when there is no relationship or contract between a consumer and all the parties who work on a construction project, problems …