Anchored Tiny Homes ATH Took Progress Payments for ADU and Abandoned Project Fair Oaks California
I contracted with Anchored Tiny Homes (ATH) in April 2024 to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in my backyard for my elderly mother to live in so she could be close to us in a safe environment. I paid 5 progress payments totalling $17K. End of July, ATH stopped communicating, shut down their email, phones, office, and social media. They kept the money and I have nothing to show for it. My project is stuck in the County permits office. I am one of the lucky ones as ATH victimized hundreds of customers in the Northern California area. Some are veterans or elderly swindled out of their retirement. Some have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars with nothing to show or only a partial built and abandoned ADU. Owner of ATH, Colton Paulhus claims they had too much business and could not keep up with it with revenue. However, he and the 2 other co-owners live in mansions, drive luxury cars (he drives a Bentley), enjoys many vacations throughout the year. Meanwhile he has not paid his employees or subcontractors. Some subcontractors have levied liens on homeowners in an attempt to recover money. However, the homeowners paid ATH, who was obligated to pay the subcontractors, but kept the money instead. There are several news stories on ATH's fraud:
https://abc7news.com/post/anchored-tiny-homes-shuts-down-colton-paulhaus-fair-oaks-sacramento-i-team/15183498/
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/consumer/tiny-home-builders-customers-unfinished-projects/3623773/
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/more-people-allege-fair-oaks-based-company-refused-to-pay-for-work/103-23df8331-4972-4a7a-890f-b2734b9e8ee3
This is a pattern of behavior for this company as they have had at least 7 previous businesses that failed recently. They even have a new business they are starting instead of fulfilling their obligations with ATH; Contractors Launched.