CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is taking action to protect Charlotte homeowners and renters as they continue to ask, "Where's the Money?"
Stein is suing Canary General Contracting and Design, alleging the company deceived Charlotte homeowners. Stein is also launching an investigation into real estate software company RealPage over concerns of unethical conduct of raising the cost of rental housing.
There's hope this new legal action will stop shady business practices that take advantage of renters and homeowners struggling to make ends meet, in Charlotte where a lot of people are already burdened by the cost of their homes.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
“People are moving to Charlotte for a reason, because it’s a vibrant exciting place to live," North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said.
Some say the city of Charlotte is a place fit for a queen, but at the Justice Plaza in east Charlotte, the reality is different.
“We still see a large part of our community that are without a home, or without anywhere to go," Toussaint Romain, with the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, said.
The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and Legal Aid of North Carolina is trying to put an end to unfair practices.
“Our cases have gone up from 300 cases a year to over a thousand," Managing Attorney of Legal Aid of North Carolina's Charlotte office Larissa Mañón Mervin said.
Now, Attorney General Josh Stein is also taking legal action, to protect homeownership and increase affordable housing in North Carolina.
His latest efforts included suing Canary General Contracting and Design, an unlicensed general contracting business, for defrauding Charlotte homeowners.
The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division has received 15 complaints against Canary, and North Carolinians have reported more than $250,000 in financial losses.
Also, investigating RealPage, a software company, that claims they provide data to help property managers charge rent, which Stein says, is an unfair price.
“When companies are out there ripping people off, we will take action because it’s already expensive enough as is and we can’t have unlawful acts make it worse," Stein said.
In Charlotte, housing instability is already leaving devastating impacts.
“It leads to food instability, it leads to learning issues at schools, it impacts their behavior at school, it impacts their ability to grow," Mervin said.
In a growing city like Charlotte, there's hope that it will fit everyone.
"We need to make sure that people can build and grow roots here in Mecklenburg County, that means we need to have more housing options available to folks that are affordable," Stein said.
The Department of Justice will host a symposium to educate lawyers and community leaders on heirs’ property so they can help people maintain ownership of homes and land that have been passed down over generations. Attendees can learn more and register at www.bit.ly/Heirsproperty.
Heirs’ property is created when land is passed down and eventually owned by several descendant owners. These owners are often targeted by scam investment buyers or are at an elevated risk of losing their homes to property tax foreclosures. Heirs’ property is more common in communities of color and is a key driver of the racial wealth gap.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Where's The Money series is all about leveling the playing field in the Carolinas by helping others and breaking down barriers. WCNC Charlotte doesn't want our viewers to be taken advantage of, so we’re here to help. Watch previous stories where we ask the question “Where’s the Money” in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.