Invitation Homes is being accused of excessive and illegal late fees charged to tenants who fall behind on their rent, according to a class-action lawsuit. In the suit, plaintiffs claim the single-family rental giant charges a late fee of $95 even when rent is only an hour late. The lawsuit also alleges that Invitation Homes adds extra late fees of $95 or more on any accrued balance of late fees, even if tenants pay their most recent rent on time.
The lawsuit was filed in California, but claims Invitation Home’s late fees violate the law in all 12 of the states in which the company operates. Invitation Homes owns 82,570 single-family homes across the country and is the largest single-family rental company in the nation.
The lawsuit alleges: “The penalty is illegal, and thus, void, because it is excessive and bears no relation to any actual damages incurred by [Invitation Homes] when rent or other fees are paid late. Some people have been evicted purely as a result of this late rent penalty, and in particular this penalty stacking practice.”
Invitation Homes has yet to comment publicly on the pending lawsuit.
Source: “Invitation Homes Hit With Class-Action Lawsuit Over Late Fees,” Curbed.com (May 29, 2018)
