A pair who raised concerns about dirty water leaks and fungi sprouting from their walls has ended up without a place to live after being suddenly forced out by their landlord.
Cody Recker and Jessica Perez initially believed they were in for a complete renovation when they vacated their residence of close to ten years, only to find themselves barred from re-entering.
Living in the six-bedroom, three-bathroom property in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles had been a source of joy for Recker and Perez until water damage began in 2020.
Plumbing failures filled the basement with water 14 times, raw sewage pooled on the floors, and hordes of mice and fleas infested the house.
The roof leaked so badly that mushrooms sprouted from the bedroom ceiling.
The couple said they begged their landlord, Invitation Homes, to fix the mounting issues, but only minimal repairs were done by what they believe were unlicensed contractors, Los Angeles Times reported.
Then, in 2023, the company told them they had to move out, claiming the house was unsafe and needed major repairs.
At the time, LA allowed evictions for substantial renovations. But the house was never fixed.
Instead, it was listed for sale weeks after the couple left.
“We were being betrayed left and right,” Recker said.
Invitation Homes, which owns or manages over 100,000 homes across the US, has not responded to the lawsuit the couple filed against them.
Last year, the Dallas-based property giant agreed to pay $3.7 million to settle a price-gouging case and $48 million after a Federal Trade Commission probe into alleged junk fees and illegal evictions.
“It’s really horrifying how Invitation Homes treated Recker and Perez,” said Joseph Tobener, the couple’s attorney.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and the conditions are as bad as I’ve seen.”
The lawsuit, set for trial in June 2026, accuses the company of negligence, wrongful eviction, harassment, breach of contract, and unfair business practices.
Recker moved into the 1908-built home in 2014, and Perez joined him in 2020. They said problems spiraled as the house aged.
How common is eviction in the US?
Millions of households receive an eviction notice each year.
The Eviction Lab at Princeton University estimated that per 100 renting households, about 7.8 evictions were filed each year.
The Eviction Lab tracks filings across 10 states and 36 cities.
In a typical year, landlords file about 3.6 million eviction cases.
Source: The Eviction Lab
Rain soaked the walls and carpets, leaving a moldy stench.
Recker said he used a Shop-Vac to remove 35 gallons of water from the basement during storms.
The couple also noticed the house was shifting.
The kitchen floor sank, the countertops pulled away from the backsplash, and the garage foundation cracked.
Fleas bit them in their sleep, and mushrooms sprouted in the attic due to leaks, the lawsuit said.
In late 2023, Invitation Homes sent an engineer to inspect the home. Two months later, an agent called Recker.
“This house is unsafe, so we need you guys to move out ASAP,” the agent allegedly said.
The couple asked if they could return after repairs, but were told no, as work could take six months to a year.
Then, they claim, the pressure campaign began.
“Every other day I’d get a text or a call saying, ‘We need you guys out now,’ ”Recker said.
During a walkthrough, an agent allegedly admitted, “Honestly, I have a feeling they’re going to sell it. There’s no way they are going to repair this.”
The couple finally moved out on March 12, 2024. By March 31, the home was listed for $850,000. It sold two months later for $792,000.
“That was the cherry on top, I will never rent from them again,” Perez said.
LA law allows evictions for substantial remodels, but the house was never renovated.
Since then, the LA City Council has temporarily banned renovation-based evictions while working on permanent protections.
According to Tobener, all written discovery has been completed, and Invitation Homes admitted under penalty of perjury that they told the couple they needed to relocate due to repairs, but no repairs were ever made.
Instead, the property was sold.
“This is a violation of the California Tenant Protection Act and the Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance. It is a very clear violation,” Tobener told The U.S. Sun.
He further emphasized that Invitation Homes failed to meet any of its obligations as a landlord, including illegally increasing rent, failing to repair the property, and evicting the couple unlawfully.
“That is the trifecta!” Tobener added.
Recker and Perez now live in a smaller Pasadena home with a landlord who checks in regularly.
Invitation Homes spokesperson said they “do not comment on pending litigation.”
