Apartments.com class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Jessica Divens filed a class action lawsuit against CoStar Realty Information Inc.
- Why: Divens claims CoStar charges hidden transaction fees on its Apartments.com platform.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was removed to Washington federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges the owner of Apartments.com charges consumers who pay rent through the platform unlawful transaction fees, also known as “junk fees”.
Plaintiff Jessica Divens claims CoStar Realty Information, the owner of Apartments.com, charged her a $6.60 transaction fee — that was not disclosed to her in her lease agreement — after she used the platform to pay rent.
“Defendant’s fee is a classic example of a company-imposed ‘junk fee’ that serves solely as a profit generator for [Apartments.com] while providing no added value to consumers,” the Apartments.com class action lawsuit says.
Divens claims the process automatically lards online checkout flows with an unexpected fee, then forces consumers to find a way to remove it — a practice condemned by the Federal Trade Commission.
Divens wants to represent a nationwide class and Washington state subclass of consumers who were charged a transaction fee when making a rent payment on Apartments.com
Apartments.com fees amount to ‘unexpected rent,’ class action claims
Divens argues the transaction fees imposed by Apartments.com are ultimately deceptive since the company fails to inform consumers that the fee “is not permitted by their residential leases.”
“Indeed, the transaction fee amounts to additional, unexpected rent for tenants that is undisclosed in lease agreements,” the Apartments.com class action lawsuit says.
Divens claims CoStar Realty Information is guilty of unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contract and violations of the Washington Consumer Protection Act.
The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of actual, statutory and treble damages for herself and all class members.
The class action lawsuit was originally filed in the Superior Court for the State of Washington in and for Thurston County in April but was removed to the federal court in May under the Class Action Fairness Act.
In 2025, two consumers filed a similar class action lawsuit against Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC and Greystar California Inc. over claims it charged tenants illegal fees for pest control and trash services.
Have you been charged hidden fees while using Apartments.com? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Kim D. Stephen and Cecily C. Jordan of Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC; Sophia G. Gold, Amanda J. Rosenberg and Jeffrey D. Kaliel of KalielGold PLLC; and Melissa S. Weiner and Ryan T. Gott of Pearson Warshaw LLP.
The Apartments.com class action lawsuit is Divens v. CoStar Realty Information Inc., Case No. 3:26-cv-05508, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- X.AI class action alleges chatbot Grok shares user data with Google, Meta, TikTok
- Insulet recalls various Omnipod Pods due to potential insulin under-delivery
- Dove class action claims body wash falsely advertised as ‘hypoallergenic’
- Gatorade class action claims sports drink falsely advertised as hydrating
