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I lived in an Invitation Home near Nashville, TN last year for about 3 months. We moved cross country and we were looking for something affordable and something we could on pretty short notice.

We knew we would probably have to break the lease early because we started looking for a home to buy as soon as we moved. We were prepared for the fees associated with breaking the lease early. I found a home online that fit our needs and contacted Invitation Homes. The communication with them from the start was horrible.

I had a lot of questions as we were moving cross country and had never been to Tennessee before. It was so hard to get a hold of anyone from the company who could help me. The person in charge of the information of the particular home I was looking at in TENNESSEE was located in Scottsdale, AZ so they were very unhelpful with any questions about the area the home was looking acted. I unfortunately decided to move forward anyways, which was a huge mistake.

Since we had sold our home quickly and were moving on fairly short notice I was hoping to get everything done online or over the phone so we could just move in right away with no worries. That did not happen. They said I could pay the security deposit online after I set up an online account for their portal. They never sent me the information or credentials for the online account even though I requested it several times.

They also never provided me information regarding utilities until the day before our scheduled move in date. I didnโ€™t even speak with my โ€˜property managerโ€™ until the day before move in. At this point she said I needed a cashier check from my bank for the security deposit. I let her know I wanted to pay it online because there werenโ€™t any branches located in Tennessee for our bank.

She said it was too late, it had to be done online at least 48 hours before move in. I was slightly angered as I had been trying for weeks to get the information to set up an online account. She finally got approval on the day of move in to use money orders to pay the deposit. I also had to set up my utilities on the day before move in which caused an issue with our trash pickup.

It was several weeks after move in to start our trash pick up service and get a trash bin for the curb. After the hectic move in things went pretty well and I was lucky to have no major maintenance problems while in the house. We found a home to buy pretty quickly and we started the process to put our notice in to move out. I emailed our 30 day notice and about a week later I got confirmation and very limited instructions on moving out.

I received a message from the local Nashville office to set up a final, move out inspection. I tried to return the call and set it up but never heard back after I left several voice and email messages. Nobody ever verbally gave me any further move out instructions so I followed the instructions in the lease and the 30 day confirmation I received. I paid the final month of rent plus the penalty of breaking the lease which was an additional 2 monthsโ€™ rent.

I had the house deep cleaned, scheduled the electricity to be turned off after move out, which was the only utility in my name. I turned the keys in to the local office per the written instructions I received to turn them in during business hours in person. The house was in better shape at move out than it was at move in. A few weeks after move out I called to inquire about when I would receive my security deposit back.

It was at this point I was informed that I would not be receiving my security deposit and I was being charged $6500 in โ€˜damages.โ€™ I was baffled as the house was in perfect condition at move out. They also didnโ€™t inform me of any of this until after the allotted time period according to state law to inform me of a claim against my security deposit. They also refused to inform me of the final move out inspection. I immediately disputed these damages and demanded my security deposit.

The ladies at the office said I was responsible for a burst pipe and damages from flooding that happened after I moved out. They said I was liable because I โ€˜turned the keys in too early.โ€™ I confirmed with them that I was following the instructions given to me on how and when to turn them in. They the said I was liable because I had the utilities turned off too early, which was a lie because I had the electricity scheduled to shut off on January 2nd and my move out date was December 31, 2017. At this point they said the charges for damages were final and they wouldnโ€™t explain anything else to me and I would have to contact their lawyer for any additional questions.

I immediately contacted a lawyer and she sent them a demand letter to demand my security deposit back and to drop the charges for the damages. My lawyer cited that they did not follow Tennessee state law. I also provided my lawyer all my evidence of their lack of communication and the instructions for move out. This was all provided to their lawyer.

Their lawyer said if I provided the proof of when I had the electricity turned off that I would receive my deposit back. I provided this to my lawyer and I gave them permission to contact the electric company to get any additional information they needed. They received the same proof from me as they did from the electric company. The electric company said I scheduled the turn off for January 2nd but that someone else (with authority to) called and canceled the turn off and transferred the service out of my name on December 27th.

The electric company could not confirm who this โ€˜someone rlseโ€™ was but basically told me it was Invitation Homes. The lawyer claimed ignorance though and said he was investigating who this โ€˜someone elseโ€™ was even though he knew it was Invitation Homes. There was this back and forth between the lawyers for months and they kept claiming they were investigating even though proof was provided several times. Several weeks would pass without hearing anything so I also made formal complaints to the BBB and the TN Department of commerce.

The response to the BBB was basically they were investigating but that they werenโ€™t actively going after me for the damages. They responded to the department of Commerce in the same way. In the midst of these complaints I made they sent the $6500 in damages to a collections agency and I received a bill from FCO Collections. I informed the BBB and the department of Commerce of this but Invitation Homes to this day has not replied back to them or my lawyer or myself.

I disputed the damages with FCO who investigated as well and I sent them all my proof and communications with their lawyer and Invitation Homes. FCO confirmed that they didnโ€™t believe the charges were valid and that I shouldnโ€™t be held liable. They dismissed the charges and closed the collections account. I still havenโ€™t received my security deposit back even though their lawyer said I would with the proof I provided.

I have not heard from them in months; they have not contacted me, nor my lawyer, nor BBB, nor the department of Commerce to resolve my issue and to return my deposit. They are unlawfully holding on to it. This whole ordeal has been stressful and unnecessary. They have been so rude as well in their communications with me; especially the lawyer Gary Rubenstein and Lynn Kanaly and Sandra Walters with Invitation homes.

I am lawfully due back my deposit and I wonโ€™t stop trying to have it returned from these slumlords. They are a predatory corporation that places fees above people.

Location: Columbus, Mississippi

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Wow I'm dreading the move out in the next few weeks

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