Do you or did you since 2016 rent a Seattle apartment maintained by one of the following companies: Greystar, Trammell Crow Residential, Avenue5, Equity, Essex, FPI, Lincoln, Security Properties, AvalonBay or Thrive?
Seattle attorneys are representing renters in a lawsuit fighting a scheme that artificially inflated Seattle rent. Fill out the form to find out your rights »
Hagens Berman has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Seattle renters who have been harmed by a scheme perpetrated by some of the largest residential real estate companies – Greystar, Avenue5, Trammell Crow Residential, Equity, Essex, FPI Management, Lincoln, Security Properties and Thrive Communities, AvalonBay Communities, as well as other large property management groups. The lawsuit states these leasing companies colluded to artificially increase the price of Seattle rent, basing leases above competitive levels. In this scheme, renters lose, and leases are adjusted to rates beyond what a free market would bear. We believe in upholding tenants’ rights.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M AFFECTED?
The residential real estate companies under investigation maintain properties across the U.S., including in Seattle. Affected areas of the downtown and downtown-adjacent areas include Downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, the Central District, South Lake Union, Queen Anne and Belltown. If your apartment is maintained by one of the following companies, or another large property management company, fill out the form to find out your rights »
- Greystar
- Avenue5
- Trammell Crow Residential
- Equity Apartments
- Essex
- FPI Management
- Lincoln Property Company
- Security Properties
- Thrive Communities
- AnalonBay Communities
- Other large property management companies operating in Seattle
YOUR SEATTLE TENANT RIGHTS
Your rights as a renter include a fair price for your apartment, and we believe these companies have violated federal laws in artificially raising the price of rent in Seattle. You may have rights under antitrust laws to compensation for your losses due to this scheme.
RENTAL PRICE SCHEME EXPLAINED
Our legal team believes that beginning in 2016, these leasing giants began to work together to increase lease prices for Seattle renters. Instead of using an independent pricing metric and supply decisions, they agreed to use a third-party pricing and data collection service, RealPage, to make unit-specific lease adjustments. RealPage also allows participating lessors to coordinate supply levels to avoid price competition. They made these changes in lockstep, forcing leases higher in a scheme designed to imprison renters.
HOW CAN A CLASS ACTION HELP?
Through a class-action lawsuit, individual renters can collectively bring claims against large corporations who would otherwise have the upper hand. A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change corrupt practices. Though these measures do not bring immediate relief, they are a time-tested method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing.
TOP SEATTLE LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is home to some of the most well-respected and successful lawyers representing plaintiffs in class actions, and the firm has achieved $325 billion in settlements since its founding in 1993 in Seattle. The firm has taken on major institutions for fraudulent billing and predatory behavior, including in the mortgage market, in Big Tech, and against utility companies, product manufacturers and other negligent parties. Your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in this area of law.
NO COST TO YOU
There is no cost or fee whatsoever involved in joining this case. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team. In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum.
