Invitation Homes, the largest U.S. landlord of single-family homes, has agreed to pay $48 million to settle an FTC complaint alleging deceptive practices against renters. The settlement includes refunds for tenants and mandates changes to the company’s business practices, including clearer disclosure of rental prices and fairer security deposit policies.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has reversed his promise to ban no-fault evictions before the next general election. The Conservative government had initially pledged to end the practice, which allows landlords to evict tenants without reason, five years ago. However, Gove now says that he only “hopes” the ban will be enacted before the election. Charities blame no-fault evictions for rising homelessness, and the delayed ban has drawn criticism from campaigners and opposition parties.
According to a Forbes Advisor study, the Worcester, MA-CT area ranks as the third-worst real estate market for renters in the country. With a low vacancy rate of 1.7% and a high median rent of $1,995, Worcester’s rental market has become highly competitive. The study cites a lack of affordable housing and high demand as contributing factors to the city’s housing crisis.
