Greystar Lawsuit: Junk Fees, the FTC Deal and the RealPage Settlement

The Junk-Fee Claims

Greystar is the largest apartment-management company in the United States, which is why its billing practices draw class actions. Tenants allege the company charges undisclosed “junk fees” on top of advertised rent — for pest control, valet trash, utility administration and the like — that can add hundreds of dollars a year and are not reflected in the quoted price. A California class action making these claims is among several filed by former tenants.

The Federal Trade Commission, joined by the Colorado Attorney General, also pursued Greystar over hidden rental fees, resulting in a reported multimillion-dollar settlement. Regulatory settlements resolve the government’s claims without necessarily resolving private ones.

The RealPage Rent-Algorithm Settlement

Greystar is also one of the landlords named in litigation over RealPage, the software whose rent-setting algorithm plaintiffs say helped landlords coordinate and inflate rents. Greystar and a group of other property managers agreed to a settlement reported at more than $141 million in total, with Greystar’s share reported around $50 million. As with any settlement, it resolves claims without an admission of wrongdoing.

Earlier, Greystar settled other matters too — including a North Carolina case over eviction fees and a Washington case over tenant-screening fees.

What Renters Can Take From It

The through-line is fees and pricing transparency: what was advertised versus what appeared on the bill. Renters’ leverage sits in their lease terms and state landlord-tenant and consumer-protection law on fee disclosure. If a balance has gone to collections, see our guidance on debt collection lawsuits.