🚨 Petition to Investigate and Halt Predatory Sale-Leaseback Schemes by EasyKnock, Unlock Partnership Solutions, and Affiliates

 

We, the undersigned, call on federal and state authorities — including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC), Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (SML), and Illinois regulatory agencies — to immediately investigate and halt fraudulent sale-leaseback schemes orchestrated by EasyKnock, Unlock Partnership Solutions, TVC Funding, and their financial and legal affiliates.

These companies prey on homeowners — seniors, veterans, the disabled, and families in crisis — through deceptive contracts, unlicensed lending activity, illegal evictions, and misrepresentation of consumer protections.

They stole our homes.

We’re fighting back.

 

✍️ Our Stories

 

Chedea Neal & Tim Richardson – Watauga, Texas

A mother and homeowner fighting to protect her Texas homestead. Her property was encumbered without proper consent by Unlock Partnership Solutions and TVC Funding under the guise of a “sale-leaseback.” The deal involved a commercial bridge loan, bypassing Texas homestead protections and federal lending laws. Nese Property Management, an affiliate SPV, performed unpermitted repairs and tried to shift blame for major plumbing failures onto the residents — despite clear video evidence to the contrary.

 

Mark Johnson – Markham, Illinois

A disabled veteran wrongfully evicted from his long-time home after EasyKnock transferred the deed to a private LLC and listed the house for sale. He now lives in his car, in declining health, failed by both the courts and regulatory authorities.

 

 

❗ The Problem

These companies operate nationwide using sale-leaseback arrangements disguised as property sales to evade consumer lending laws like the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), RESPA, and state lending and licensing statutes.

 

They:

Strip homeowners of equity, control, and legal rights through deceptive tactics.

Use Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to obscure financial dealings, transfer deeds, and avoid accountability.
Target vulnerable populations, exploiting housing insecurity for profit.
Operate in a regulatory gray zone, with agencies like the Texas SML and OCCC claiming they lack jurisdiction — leaving homeowners unprotected.

 

 

⚖️ Legal Authority for Action

 

 

 

Substance over Form Doctrine: Courts have long held that the true nature of a transaction governs. If it functions like a loan, it must be treated as such.
Key Legal Precedents:

Pereira v. United States (1954)
Mourning v. Family Publications (1973)
Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co. (1965)
FTC v. IFC Credit Corp. (2008)

Texas Constitution, Article XVI § 50: Prohibits encumbrance of homesteads without proper authority.
Texas Finance Code (Ch. 156, 157, 158): Requires licensing and oversight for mortgage activity.

 

📎 Evidence of Misconduct

Deceptive Marketing: Consumers were misled into believing they could remain in their homes permanently.
Improper Recording: Names were altered on deeds and tax certifications without informed consent.
Unlicensed Lending: Companies acted as brokers/lenders without required state registration.
SPV Misuse: Entities like Nese Property Management (formed in Delaware Oct. 2024, but unregistered in Texas until March 2025) operated unlawfully, performed unpermitted major repairs, and violated health codes.
Regulatory Influence: David Blumberg (EasyKnock board member) contributed over $82,000 to housing committee politicians, raising concerns about impartiality.

 

📣 Our Demands

Full Federal and State Investigation

Into EasyKnock, Unlock Partnership Solutions, TVC Funding, and their affiliates for:

Mortgage fraud
Unlicensed lending
Violations of TILA, RESPA, and Texas constitutional protections

Emergency Relief

Stop all ongoing evictions and fraudulent property sales
Restore ownership to Chedea Neal and Mark Johnson
Provide financial restitution for wrongful conduct

Legislative Reform

Close legal loopholes allowing disguised credit transactions
Strengthen homestead and consumer lending protections
Require transparency and registration for all SPVs operating in housing

Public Hearings & Accountability

Hold congressional or state hearings on nationwide sale-leaseback abuse
Demand EasyKnock CEO Jarred Kessler publicly respond to civil rights and consumer fraud allegations (as previously requested by Sen. Elizabeth Warren)

 

 

 

 

 

🧭 Why It Matters

 

This is not a one-off case. This is a national housing crisis in the making.

 

EasyKnock and its affiliates have developed a replicable system for evading consumer protections and seizing homes from those least able to defend themselves. Seniors. Veterans. Single mothers. Working-class families.

We will not be silent.

 

✍️ Sign the Petition

Join Chedea, Tim, Mark, and thousands of other homeowners in demanding justice, accountability, and housing security for all.

 

📎 More details, legal documents, and evidence can be found here