Signature Town house interior cracks

[mgbinspect]

Why is there so much tape joint failure in townhouse drywall?

Typically, when you observe a lot of loose tape in townhouse drywall, the firewall between units will be masonry. The front and back walls are load bearing wood frame construction. The drywall is hung on furing strips on the masonry firewalls. When the two stories of framing settle and compress the masonry firewalls don't budge. Hence, the loose tape. Notice that most of the loose tape is on your left and right walls (the masonry firewalls).