The District of Columbia Attorney General, Brian L. Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit against Curbio, a company that specializes in rehabilitating homes for sale. The lawsuit claims that Curbio targets financially disadvantaged seniors and traps them in contracts that can lead to financial ruin. The company offers to renovate homes, allowing owners to defer payment until after their homes are sold.

Schwalb alleges that Curbio overcharges consumers for unsatisfactory work, holding a lien on the property while often failing to deliver on promised renovations within the agreed time frame. The lawsuit seeks to have Curbio’s contracts deemed void and unenforceable and to prevent the company from enforcing liens on properties where work was not performed. It also aims to collect damages for affected customers.

The District of Columbia Attorney General’s office has described the experiences of several former Curbio customers, including an 86-year-old homeowner and her grandson who signed a $57,640 contract for work that was estimated to take 45 days to complete. However, the work took significantly longer than promised, and when the customers complained, Curbio failed to address their concerns.

Curbio has denied the allegations made in the lawsuit, stating that the claims are without merit and paint a false narrative of the company. They argue that the majority of their projects in Washington, D.C. are completed and sold without issue.

This legal action taken by the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office is the first of its kind against Curbio, which operates nationwide. It serves as an important step in holding the company accountable for its alleged exploitation of elderly homeowners.