Zillow Rent Payment Fee Lawsuit, Were You Affected? — Nour v. Zillow Group Inc., No. 1:26-cv-01885

If you’ve paid rent through Zillow Rental Manager and noticed an extra “card fee” or “Transaction Fee” tacked onto your total — you’re likely part of the class a New Jersey renter is trying to build. Sara Nour is suing Zillow Group Inc. in Nour v. Zillow Group Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-01885, claiming the fee is an undisclosed “junk fee” hidden until the final checkout screen. No settlement exists yet — here’s where things stand.

Zillow Rent Payment Fee Lawsuit — Key Facts

Lawsuit Filed	On or about April 24, 2026, in D.C. Superior Court; removed to federal court on or about June 1, 2026
Defendant	Zillow Group Inc.
Alleged Harm	Undisclosed “Transaction Fee” automatically added to rent payments made through Zillow Rental Manager
Law Alleged	Unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contract, the Washington Consumer Protection Act, the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act, and other state consumer protection statutes
Who Is Affected	A proposed nationwide class of renters charged a Transaction Fee through Zillow Rental Manager, plus state-specific subclasses
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia — No. 1:26-cv-01885
Current Stage	Removed to federal court; case pending, no ruling on class certification yet
Lead Plaintiff Deadline	N/A — no lead plaintiff deadline has been set at this stage
Settlement Status	No settlement. No claim form. Case is active litigation only.
Last Updated	September 21, 2026

Who Is Zillow, and Why Is It Being Sued Over Rent Payments?

Zillow Group Inc. runs Zillow Rental Manager, a platform landlords use to list units, screen tenants, and collect rent payments online. Because Zillow processes the payment itself rather than the landlord, it’s positioned to add its own fee on top of whatever a lease actually requires. That’s the exact arrangement Nour’s lawsuit challenges — a middleman charging renters for the privilege of paying rent they already owe.

What Did Zillow Allegedly Do?

Nour’s complaint says she rented an apartment in Washington, D.C. for $2,550 a month and paid through Zillow Rental Manager every month. Each payment came with an automatically-added charge labeled a “card fee” — on at least one occasion, $75.22. She says Zillow never told her the fee was optional or how to avoid it; it simply appeared on the final “Confirm” screen after she’d already entered her payment details.

Here’s the detail that makes the case sharper than a typical fee dispute: $75.22 is almost exactly 2.95% of $2,550 — the credit card transaction rate Zillow discloses on its own website. So the fee wasn’t secretly inflated. The problem, as the complaint frames it, is that renters were never told upfront that the fee existed, that it applied only to card payments, or that a fee-free way to pay was available.

That distinction matters because it’s the whole legal theory. Nour isn’t just annoyed about a charge — she’s arguing the charge was legal to have, but illegal to hide.

Are You Part of This Lawsuit?

You may be, if you paid a Transaction Fee to Zillow when making a rent payment through Zillow Rental Manager. Nour is suing on her own behalf and on behalf of a proposed nationwide class of everyone charged that fee, plus separate subclasses tied to specific state consumer protection laws.

No class has been certified yet, so nothing is guaranteed and there’s no form to sign. Renters who fit that description are automatically part of the group the lawsuit is trying to represent — you don’t need to do anything to preserve a place in it right now.

Are You Covered Outside D.C.?

Likely yes, but through a different legal theory depending on where you live. The federal case covers a proposed nationwide class under general claims like unjust enrichment, plus a multistate subclass built around individual states’ consumer protection statutes — including Washington’s and D.C.’s. If the case proceeds, which state law applies to you will depend on where you signed your lease and made your payments.

If you were charged fees you believe your lease didn’t allow, a consumer fraud attorney can walk through whether you have grounds for your own claim, separate from waiting on this case.

What Is Nour Asking the Court to Award?

There’s no settlement and no dollar figure guaranteed to anyone. Nour’s complaint asks for restitution of the fees charged, actual and statutory damages, treble damages, pre-judgment interest, and an order stopping Zillow from continuing to charge the fee the way it currently does. She’s also asking for a jury trial.

What Could Class Members Receive If This Case Succeeds?

Impossible to predict this early. Any recovery would depend on how many renters were charged the fee, whether the class gets certified, and whether Zillow settles or fights the case to a verdict. If you were charged repeatedly — monthly, the way Nour describes — your individual exposure adds up faster than a one-time charge would.

What Should Affected Renters Do Right Now?

1. Most renters who paid the fee are automatically covered by the proposed class — no action is required yet.
2. Save your Zillow Rental Manager payment records now: monthly statements, receipts, and anything labeled “card fee” or “Transaction Fee.”
3. Note how much you were charged and how many months you paid it, since that’s what any future claim would be based on.
4. There’s no lead plaintiff deadline to track in this case as currently filed.
5. Watch the docket in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Case No. 1:26-cv-01885, for a ruling on class certification.
6. If you want to pursue your own claim rather than wait, a consumer protection attorney can tell you whether your state’s law gives you a faster path.

Zillow Rent Payment Fee Lawsuit — Full Timeline

Milestone	Date
Nour begins renting D.C. apartment, paying via Zillow Rental Manager	Prior to 2026 (exact dates not specified in public reporting)
Complaint filed in Superior Court of the District of Columbia	On or about April 24, 2026
Case removed to U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia	On or about June 1, 2026
Ruling on class certification	UNVERIFIED — not yet scheduled on the public docket
Expected resolution	UNVERIFIED — case is in early proceedings

Zillow Rent Payment Fee Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 1:26-cv-01885

Is there a class action lawsuit against Zillow over rent payment fees right now? 

Yes. Sara Nour filed suit in D.C. Superior Court in April 2026, and Zillow removed the case to federal court, where it’s proceeding as Nour v. Zillow Group Inc., No. 1:26-cv-01885.

Do I need to do anything right now to be part of the Zillow lawsuit?

 No. If you were charged a Transaction Fee through Zillow Rental Manager, you’re covered by the proposed class as it currently stands. No claim form exists because there’s no settlement.

When will the Zillow rent fee case settle? 

There’s no timeline. The case was only recently removed to federal court, and no class certification ruling has been issued yet.

Can I file my own lawsuit against Zillow instead of joining the class?

 Yes, if you believe you have an individual claim under your state’s consumer protection law. A consumer protection attorney can evaluate whether that makes sense given your specific fees and lease terms.

How will I find out if the Zillow lawsuit settles or is dismissed?

 Watch the docket for Case No. 1:26-cv-01885 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, or follow legal and consumer news coverage of the case.

What specific laws does Zillow allegedly violate? 

The complaint alleges unjust enrichment, tortious interference with contract, violations of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act, and other states’ consumer protection statutes.

How much could Zillow renters get if this case settles?

 No figure is set. Nour seeks restitution, actual and statutory damages, and treble damages, but any per-person amount would depend on class size and how the case resolves.

Was the Transaction Fee itself illegal, or just how Zillow disclosed it? 

The complaint doesn’t challenge Zillow’s right to charge a card processing fee — it challenges the timing and clarity of the disclosure, arguing renters weren’t told the fee was avoidable until after they’d already committed to paying it.

Sources Used in This Article

• Courthouse News Service — “Zillow sued over ‘junk fees’ added to rent payments,” April 27, 2026: https://www.courthousenews.com/zillow-sued-over-junk-fees-added-to-rent-payments/
• Law360 — “Zillow Junk Fee Class Action Moved To Federal Court,” June 1, 2026: https://www.law360.com/articles/2484200/zillow-junk-fee-class-action-moved-to-federal-court
• TopClassActions.com — “Class action alleges Zillow adds ‘junk fee’ to online rent payments”: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/class-action-alleges-zillow-adds-junk-fee-to-online-rent-payments/
• Truth in Advertising (TINA.org) — Zillow Rental Manager class action tracker entry, Nour et al. v. Zillow Group Inc., 26-cv-1885, D.D.C.: https://truthinadvertising.org/class-action/zillow-rental-manager/
• Online Marketplaces — “Zillow Sued for ‘Junk Fees’ on Rental Payments Paid via its Rental Manager Service,” April 28, 2026: https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/zillow-sued-for-junk-fees-on-rental-payments-paid-via-its-rental-manager-service/

Related on AllAboutLawyer.com: Zillow Lawsuit 2025: Multiple Legal Battles, RESPA Violations, and What Homeowners Need to Know About Their Legal Rights — background on Zillow’s other pending litigation, including its RESPA steering cases.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. Facts verified against Courthouse News Service, Law360, and Truth in Advertising’s litigation tracker on September 21, 2026. Last Updated: September 21, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.