In a concerning revelation, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is scrutinizing the practices of corporate landlords in metro Atlanta, particularly in response to tenants’ complaints about inadequate maintenance and unfair treatment.
During an oversight session in Atlanta, one tenant, Brooks-Wilhite, shared her distressing experience with a corporate landlord, particularly about the delayed response to a gas leak in her home.
After being routed to an overseas call center for help, she was informed that maintenance could only address her emergency three weeks later.
“She didn’t escalate the call. She didn’t change her response. She just said: ‘That’s all we have,’” Brooks-Wilhite recounted, emphasizing how her family endured over three weeks without a stove or heat during a critical holiday period.
“We had to eat out every day, which put enormous stress on our household budget,” she stated.
Ossoff’s investigation aims to address the systemic issues faced by renters, linking these problems to the growing trend of corporate ownership of housing.
Currently, corporate landlords own around 30% of single-family rental homes in metro Atlanta.
These practices are believed to be driving up rental and home prices, aligning with findings from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s investigative series, ‘American Dream for Rent.’
The senator’s initiative comes at a pivotal time, as he prepares for a challenging re-election campaign in 2026, focusing on the housing concerns of Georgians.
As part of his investigation, Ossoff’s office has interviewed 160 witnesses and collected accounts of corporate landlords mistreating residents.
“They’ve reported that when they call their landlords about erroneous charges, mysterious fees, or maintenance requirements, nobody answers the phone, and in some cases, they receive eviction notices,” Ossoff remarked, pointing to a pattern of neglect and instability for tenants.
These findings echo the investigative work done by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier this year.
Despite the complaints, Invitation Homes, a major player in the market, defends its position within the community.
Kristi DesJarlais, a spokesperson for the company, highlighted that over 200 employees live and work in Georgia, dedicated to ensuring a positive experience for renters.
She acknowledged that while mistakes happen, the company strives to rectify them, stating, “We stand by our work and the important role we play in the housing market for the growing number of Georgians who count on the flexibility and savings of leasing a home.”
Conversely, David Howard, CEO of the National Rental Home Council, asserted that Ossoff’s inquiry lacks the rigor of an official senate investigation, labeling it merely as a personal undertaking that lacks formal authority.
Last year, Invitation Homes reached a $48 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding allegations of charging renters excessive fees, improperly withhold security deposits, and undermining eviction protections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, an April report detailed over 1,000 complaints against Invitation Homes in Georgia over the past three years, highlighting the serious concerns of tenants.
Another tenant, Patrick Colson-Price, also spoke at the hearing, sharing his decision to leave his Invitation Homes rental upon the lease’s expiration due to hazardous conditions in his backyard.
He described the area as littered with dangerous debris like broken glass, razor blades, nails, and batteries, which posed a risk to his dog and potentially future tenants.
Despite contacting the city for assistance, Colson-Price noted that while some initial cleanup efforts were made, hazardous materials still remain.
“I worry about the next tenants… or if they have a child who will step on something extremely sharp,” he expressed, highlighting the ongoing concerns over tenant safety in rental properties.
Attorney Esther Graff-Radford, who specializes in housing issues, explained that corporate landlords often prioritize cheap repair bids, forcing renters to shoulder maintenance costs and deal with repairs personally.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/05/tenants-allege-dangerous-conditions-at-invitation-homes-rentals/
