The Federal Trade Commission announced on Mar. 11 that it is sending more than $47.2 million in checks to consumers who were charged undisclosed fees and other unlawful charges by Invitation Homes, a major landlord of single-family homes.
The action follows an FTC lawsuit filed in September 2024 against Invitation Homes, alleging the company deceived applicants about lease costs, imposed hidden fees for services such as smart home technology and utility management, failed to inspect homes before move-in, and unfairly withheld security deposits from tenants after they moved out. The FTC said renters could not opt out of these undisclosed fees and were sometimes charged for normal wear-and-tear or pre-existing damages.
As part of a settlement with the FTC, Invitation Homes agreed to pay $48 million to compensate affected consumers. The company was also required to clearly disclose leasing prices, implement fair policies for handling security deposit refunds, and stop other unlawful practices.
Eligible consumers are those who paid at least $45 in covered fees or charges between January 2021 and September 2024. Individuals who have already received a credit or refund from Invitation Homes are not eligible for this payment. The FTC is distributing checks to 444,131 affected consumers, who are advised to cash their checks within 90 days as indicated.
Consumers with questions about their payments can contact Rust Consulting, Inc., the refund administrator, by phone at 800-804-6915 or email at info@InvitationHomesRefund.com. The FTC emphasized that it never requires people to pay money or provide account information in order to receive a payment.
The Commission continues its work promoting competition and protecting consumers through education and enforcement actions. It encourages individuals to learn more about consumer issues at consumer.ftc.gov and report fraud or scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
