Hundreds of thousands of renters who leased houses from Invitation Homes may soon see checks in the mail.
The Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday it will distribute $47.2 million to customers of the Dallas-based landlord, resolving a lawsuit that accused the company of deceptive leasing practices. The Dallas Morning News reported that the agency is sending payments to about 444,000 renters who were charged certain fees between January 2021 and September 2024. If equally distributed, it would amount to about $106 per renter.
The case stems from a complaint the FTC filed in September alleging the nation’s largest single-family rental operator misled prospective tenants about the true cost of renting its homes. Regulators said Invitation Homes advertised leases without clearly disclosing fees, charged renters additional costs they couldn’t opt out of and sometimes imposed penalties for routine wear and tear after move-out.
The agency also alleged the company failed to properly inspect homes before tenants moved in and improperly withheld security deposits when renters left. Invitation Homes agreed to pay $47.2 million as part of the settlement, but did not admit or deny wrongdoing.
Eligible renters are those who paid at least $45 in covered fees during the roughly three-year window and have not already received refunds or credits from the company. The FTC said recipients should cash their checks within 90 days.
Beyond the payout, the settlement requires Invitation Homes to overhaul parts of its leasing process. The company must clearly disclose prices and fees upfront and implement procedures meant to ensure security deposits are handled fairly.
Invitation Homes did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, in a prior press release announcing the settlement, the company said the agreement allows it to “put the matter behind us” and continue serving residents.
The outcome lands as institutional landlords face increasing scrutiny over how they operate sprawling single-family rental portfolios. Invitation Homes owns more than 80,000 homes across 16 markets, including Texas, Florida, Arizona and Georgia, making it one of the largest operators in the sector.
— Eric Weilbacher
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