Greystar Settles FTC Junk-Fee Case for $24 Million as Eviction-Linked Utility Charges Spread
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 20
Greystar Settles FTC Junk-Fee Case for $24 Million as Eviction-Linked Utility Charges Spread
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 20
Summary
$24 million is the size of Greystar’s December FTC settlement over alleged apartment junk fees, but the deal still lets the landlord keep listing unpriced add-on utility charges that tenants say can trigger eviction.
Rubs fees are billed by landlords or third-party firms on top of rent, often without a clear price in listings or leases; tenants can be treated as nonpaying even when base rent is fully paid.
Greystar-managed cases cited by tenants show the stakes: 81-year-old Constance Soule faced eviction in California over utility charges, while Las Vegas tenant Jaslyn Cosey says back-rent aid was applied to fees, leaving her short on rent and evicted.
Scrutiny is widening beyond Greystar, with at least 13 lawsuits since early 2025, eight California cities banning Rubs, and New York City, Seattle and Los Angeles weighing tighter rules.
Tenant pushback is also growing: organizers in Los Angeles and Seattle launched Rubs strikes over monthly charges that can run from about $140 to $300, while industry groups defend the system as cost recovery and a conservation tool.
With new bans on utility formulas taking effect this August, will corporate landlords find another loophole to pass building costs onto renters?
Could a hidden fee in your 100-page lease legally force you out of your home even if your rent is paid in full?
Eviction by Junk Fees: The Greystar Settlement, Hidden Rental Charges, and the Push for All-In Pricing in U.S. Housing
Overview
The report traces how hidden rental fees, led by industry giants like Greystar, have fueled an eviction crisis and triggered major regulatory crackdowns. After the FTC and Colorado sued Greystar for deceptive pricing, a $24 million settlement forced the company to disclose total monthly costs upfront. Yet, landlords often treat utility and administrative fees as rent, so missing these payments can still lead to eviction, as seen in the case of Jaslyn Cosey. As corporate landlords pivot to complex billing systems like RUBS, tenants have responded with strikes and lawsuits, while new regulations now require all-in pricing to help renters avoid surprise costs and make better housing choices.