Q & A regarding Equity Residential Restitution Claims

1. What was Equity Residential doing that was wrong?

The Division alleged that Equity Residential improperly deducted termination fees from consumers’ security deposits, charged consumers excessive application fees, and failed to provide tenants in some of the properties it managed with receipts required by Maryland law when it collected their security deposits.

2. Under the settlement, what has Equity Residential agreed to do?

Equity Residential agreed not to charge its tenants mandatory termination fees, not to charge application fees that exceed $25 unless it actually expends more than $25 on a credit check or other expenses arising out of the application for a lease, and to provide its tenants with proper security deposit receipts. It agreed to refund to consumers (i) the amounts it charged above $25 for application fees, (ii) the termination fees it deducted from consumers’ security deposits, and (iii) an amount to those consumers who did not receive proper security deposit receipts..

3. How were refund amounts calculated?

The refund amounts that will be paid to consumers include any improper termination fees that were deducted from a tenant’s security deposit, any amount over $25 a tenant was charged as a rental application fee, and $25 to tenants who did not receive proper security deposit receipts. The refund amount will be divided among each tenant who was named on the rental lease signed with Equity Residential.

4. How did the Division determine who will receive a refund?

The Division reviewed rental records and data provided by Equity Residential to determine which tenants were charged improper fees or not provided proper security deposit receipts. The settlement concerns tenants who resided in properties managed by Equity Residential from January 1999 until August 2005.

5. When will the refunds be paid?

Refund payments should be mailed to consumers from the Comptroller of the Treasury’s office in Annapolis within four months of the date on the claims notice or, in the case of consumers whose claims notices required the tenants to provide the Division with any information, within four months of the Division’s receipt of the requested information.

6. What Equity Residential apartment complexes were covered by the settlement?

Anne Arundel County Apartments

Greentree, 8035 Greeneleaf Terrace, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Mill Pond/Yorktowne Townhomes, 602 Milldam Court, Millersville, MD 21108

Frederick County Apartments

Brookside, 148 Willowdale Dr., Frederick, MD 21703
Overlook Manor, 1208 Alban Court, Frederick, MD 21703

Howard County Apartments

Clary’s Crossing, 1311 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044

Montgomery County Apartments

Apsen Crossing, 14120 Grand Pre Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904
Canterbury, 20019 Sweetgum Circle, Germantown, MD 20874
Fairland Gardens, 11 Featherwood Court, Silver Spring, MD 20904
Fireside Park, 735 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Georgian Woods, 2121 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902
Northlake 12622 Grey Eagle Court, Germantown, MD 20874
Oak Mill, 20010 Frederick Road, Germantown, MD 20876
Scarborough Square, 438 College Parkway, Rockville, MD 20850

Prince George’s County Apartments

Marymount, 8220 Marymount Drive, Laurel, MD 20707
Northampton, 67 Harry S. Truman Dr., Largo, MD 20774

7. Who may I contact if I have other questions?

You may write to: Equity Residential Refunds, Attn: Ann Thiel, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 or you may call (410) 576-7231.