Consumer Alert
FTC says Invitation Homes was anything but inviting
What if you thought you’d agreed to a rent you could afford and then learned you had to pay an additional $1,740 in fees during your lease term? You’d probably feel deceived. That’s what the FTC says Invitation Homes did to its residents and people looking for housing. And that’s why Invitation Homes, one of the largest single-family home landlords in the country, will be refunding $48 million to residents and changing its practices.
Landlords must truthfully advertise the prices and services they’re offering. The FTC says Invitation Homes advertised an overall “worry-free leasing lifestyle” and promised pre-inspected homes before move-in and “24/7 emergency maintenance” for any issues, but failed to deliver. Instead, new residents faced major issues like sewage backup, broken appliances, and visible rodent feces. The promises didn’t live up to the hype and, to add insult to injury, according to the FTC, Invitation Homes wrongly withheld some or all of renters’ security deposits for things like normal wear and tear or damage that was already there before renters moved in. Which is also illegal.
How can you protect yourself from deceptive rental practices?
Be on the lookout for hidden fees. Does the advertised rent price include all the mandatory monthly fees or services? What about optional fees? Some listings might bury these in footnotes, hyperlinks, or fine print. Ask the sales agent to confirm in writing any mandatory fees you’ll have to pay in addition to your rent.
Document the condition of your unit. Take photos as soon as you move in and send them to your landlord right away, especially if there’s any damage. Also report appliances or systems that don’t work. When you move out, take pictures again. And, to avoid surprises, request a pre-move-out inspection to find out about any potential deductions. Ask the landlord to include with your security deposit refund an itemized list of any charges deducted.
If you see or experience deceptive rental practices, tell us your story.
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Although this problem did not relate to me personally, the FTC always does outstanding work and I much appreciate that. It is a great government agency.
They always seemed too good to be true. Thank you for article .
Invitation Homes is one of if not the largest Wall Street Investment landlords in the United States! I'm not sure of the number of homes they own but 70,000 homes is likely.
I used to rent from this company 5 years ago. How will we be notified of the refund? Will it be by letter or email notification?
In reply to I used to rent from this… by Aleshia Jones
A federal judge must approve the FTC's proposed legal settlement before it can go into effect.
The FTC lists active Refund programs at https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. In most cases, the FTC has a list of customers that were affected and their contact information and mails checks to people. It can take months to get refunds to people. Read about steps in the refund program here: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/ftc-refund-programs/how-ftc-provides-re….
GREAT job! Thank you!
IH tried to charge me when I had a code inspector come to fine them for the crappy conditions of my property. They also added $400 to my account after a 30 year old window broke in a storm. They later replaced 9 rotting windows from my house. It doesn't make any sense and they literally just threaten eviction for everything. They lie and say they filed dispossessery notices and charge tenants for that by the 15th of the month if you are late. Over $400 in late fees once for being 2 weeks late. I want to leave them but they own 75 percent of the rentals in this area.
Thank you for this service! This federal public service is a marvelous resource to citizens. Keep up the good work.
How about the ones that we are left every summer without AC for a week in 110 F plus and every winter without the heater. They never replace the AC or heater unit and always just patch it, every year for 6 years. I had to go in a hotel, because the house was inhabitable and they promised a reimbursement only to give me half of what they promised and that after 3 or 4 months.