Couple who appeared on HGTV series 'Love It Or List It' sues

A North Carolina couple that appeared on the HGTV series “Love It Or List It” is suing the show’s production company, claiming their on-screen renovations left their home in disarray. According to the Miami Herald, now, the couple is asking the production company and the construction company the series hired to pay up for what they claim is shoddy work.

Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan say they endured a breach of contract and were subject to unfair trade practices that violate North Carolina’s general contract laws, the Miami Herald reports.

They’re suing Big Coat TV, which produces “Love it or List it,” a show in which homeowners present a designer and a realtor with their less-than-perfect home. At the conclusion of each hour-long episode, the homeowners see the adjustments the designer a team of workers have done to their home and they weigh whether to keep it or sell it in favor of one of the homes the series’ realtor has found for them.

The homeowners claim the show’s changes to their home left the floors “irreparably damaged,” with holes “through which vermin could enter the house.” They also claim the series left the home with unpainted areas and windows that had been painted shut.

“We are aware of the lawsuit,” CEO and executive producer of Big Coat Productions/Big Coat TV Maria Armstrong said in a statement to the Herald. “Because this matter involves ongoing litigation, our attorneys have advised us and we feel that making a comment would be inappropriate at this time. However, we do intend to vigorously defend what we consider to be false allegations.”

The allegations detailed in the lawsuit include claims the series hired a contractor the couple had expressed concerns about using, and though the couple states they gave the series a deposit of $140,000 for their home repairs, only $85,786.50 was paid to the hired contractor.

“Love It or List It” first premiered in 2008 and the show has mostly filmed in Canada. In September 2014 it began filming episodes in North Carolina. Murphy and Sullivan say they were chosen for the show in April 2015.

Click here for more on this story from the Miami Herald.