American Homes 4 Rent Reviews: Pros and Cons When Renting

The US rental market is booming with increased demand for housing units each passing year. According to Statista, about 44 million housing units in the United States were occupied by tenants in 2022. Nearly half of these renters were under the age of 30.

With the significant expenses associated with buying or building a home, which may have various construction issues, more families are opting for rent.

One of the key players in the single-home rentals sector is American Homes 4 Rent. Since 2012, AMH has grown to have over 60,000 single-family home units and over 200,000 residents. As the official website states, in 2023, they were named the 39th top Homebuilder in the U.S.

Number of American Homes 4 Rent reviews – 1K

American Homes 4 Rent rating* - 1.3⭐

Claimed losses - $1M

Successful calls – 9%/455

Resolved issues - 2

Key Insights

• The company has a wide variety of properties to choose from, most of them in great locations.
• Based on American Homes 4 Rent reviews, customers are primarily concerned about poor customer service, property conditions, maintenance and repair challenges, and deposit issues. 
• To enjoy the seamless AMH experience, analyze offers in your preferred location, carefully review rental terms and conditions, and book a property tour.

To help consumers, we researched American Homes 4 Rent reviews on PissedConsumer.com to identify common complaints and issues with the company. We also suggest tips for a smooth renting process and experience. 

Is American Homes 4 Rent Reliable?

AMH has a 1.3-star rating out of a possible five. 94% of the reviews are negative, with only 2% being positive. Over 630 1- and 2-star reviews are left on the PissedConsumer platform as of the beginning of March 2024.

The majority of customers request an American Homes 4 Rent refund as a resolution to their cases. Of all the issues reported, only two customers said that theirs were resolved.

American Homes 4 Rent customer service is one of the most complained-about issues. So far, 456 customer service calls have been made to AMH through PissedConsumer.com. On average, calls last 3 minutes and 26 seconds, and only 9% were resolved. Customers often call regarding service quality, staff, payments, and charges.

Consumers also find American Homes 4 Rent prices of rent units relatively high. According to the investors' report, the company's rental revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 7.3% compared to income in quarter four of 2022. The revenue increment was primarily a result of higher rental rates. 

American Homes 4 Rent Pros

As pros, customers often mention:

• Location of homes near essential amenities
• Easy rental process that can be done entirely online
• Price range
• Easy availability of homes

American Homes 4 Rent Cons

When it comes to cons, customers are frustrated about the following:

• Unethical practices
• Health hazards not taken seriously
• Managers do not return phone calls or emails
• Difficult to work with
• Inconsiderate of your time
• Bogus charges
• Don't rent quality homes

Top Complaints in American Homes 4 Rent Reviews

The rental process may be challenging due to budget constraints, complex rental agreements, moving scams, maintenance issues, and communication with landlords. So, what are the top issues revealed in American Homes 4 Rent reviews? Based on online complaints, customers are mostly dissatisfied with property conditions, maintenance and repairs, poor customer service, and deposit issues.

On the other hand, there have been a few positive AHM reviews, albeit not recent ones. Satisfied customers commended the easy rental process. Some tenants are also happy with American Homes 4 Rent customer service, highlighting that the representatives were responsive and resolved the issues promptly.

For example, in review #2499952, the customer shared their positive AMH experience and commended one of the customer team representatives for helping resolve their situation when other members could not:

She diligently made an effort to see my points and compared them to what I was being charged for and made what was clearly wrong right! I wished it could have happened sooner but better late than never!

Here are the most common complaints revealed in the American Homes 4 Rent reviews. 

Property conditions

Several AMH tenants reported encountering issues with the properties after moving in. While the problems were evident for some people within a few weeks or months of moving in, the units were suitable for over a year for others.

Commonly reported issues in American Homes 4 Rent reviews include roof leaks, holes or marks on the walls, busted water heaters, faulty air conditioning, scratches on the floor, worn-out paint, leaking sinks and faucets, mold, and more.

In several cases, although the company had indicated to incoming tenants that the units were “ready to occupy”, it turned out that they were not. For example, there are complaints about the smell of cigarette smoke, water leaks, broken windows, and need to be cleaned, painted, or repaired. In one of the complaints, the customer expressed their disappointment, saying:

Our flooring was not completed, walls were left unpainted... We then had a water leak behind a wall in the laundry room. We also have had a broken window since moving in…We are stuck in a house that we are paying a lot of rent on and are unable to enjoy it.

Maintenance and repairs

One of the top questions customers ask is regarding American Homes 4 Rent maintenance policies and how to submit a maintenance request. To submit a maintenance or repair request, click "submit maintenance request" at the bottom of the page. If you haven't yet, log into your account, fill in the AMH maintenance request form, and submit it.

However, customer reviews indicate that it's difficult to get anyone to fix the maintenance and repair problems. For example, in one American Homes 4 Rent review on Reddit, the tenant complained that the company doesn't care once you get in the house as long as you keep up with your rent payments. In their case, a faulty sump dump caused different things to be ruined. It took three months for AMH to fix the floor damage to the walls and carpeting.

Another AMH renter described the same situation in review #4325802. They had several electrical issues, and it took them three months to get someone to resolve them:

It took 3 months to get an electrician out to the house. We still have squirrels living in the attic. 3 months later, nothing. Rent and renters insurance is increasing over the next 2 years because of the issues with the house.

Poor customer service

On its Contact Us page, American Homes 4 Rent provides details for reaching its customer service representatives. You can either fill out the contact form provided or call 855-774-4663. 

However, despite the stipulated contact information, both tenants and potential landlords have issues with customer support. For example, in review # 5631201, the customer had over 15 review requests, some dating back over two years. Some of the maintenance requests were closed without explanation:

I Currently have over 15 open maintenance requests, some going back 2 years. Currently the AC/Heat hasn't been working for 2 weeks. They totally ignore any request for updates. 

Issues with deposits

Often, customers have difficulty claiming their American Homes 4 Rent deposit refund at the end of their lease. According to several reviews, the company comes up with bogus claims so “they can hang on to as much of your deposit money as possible” as depicted in one of the American Homes 4 Rent complaints:

…They made the process of making a deposit for the home Very difficult and kept giving all kinds of different answers as to how it was to be handled which made it very frustrating.

The company tried to put some “bogus claims of damage.” However, when the tenant disputed the claims and provided pictures, “they relented and gave me back the money, but still charged me with a $125 cleaning fee.” 

Tips for a Smooth Renting Process and Experience

Here are tips for a smooth renting process and seamless American Homes 4 Rent experience:

1. Read customer reviews on different platforms. It will give you a well-rounded perspective of the company's reliability and any issues you are likely to encounter. Look through American Homes 4 Rent complaints to identify topical areas you should consider. 
2. Research American Homes 4 Rent in your preferred location. Visit the official website and enter your preferred location on the search bar. Review the details of the available properties, taking notes of the AHM prices, rental size, interior and exterior features, proximity to various amenities, etc. If certain aspects of the property are unclear, call AMH customer service or representatives to clarify. Narrow down to a few suitable options.
3. Understand the rental terms. Take your time to review the rental terms for a prospective property carefully. Pay attention to details such as the duration of the lease, required deposit, rent amount and rent payment methods, required documentation, additional applicable fees or charges, maintenance and repair policies, terms for lease termination, and more. Also, enquire about the American Homes 4 Rent credit score requirement.
4. Book a property tour. Although the company provides virtual tours, going by the complaints about seemingly “ready to move in house” being faulty, it is best to see the house in person.
5. Submit your application. If you choose to move forward, complete the application process thoroughly. Ensure that you meet the American Homes 4 Rent credit score requirement. Provide all the necessary information and documentation to expedite your approval. Allow enough time for the American Homes 4 Rent approval process. 

To Rent or Not Rent with American Homes 4 Rent?

Ultimately, this is a personal decision. Consider both positive and negative aspects before making a decision. The company has a wide variety of homes in different locations for you to choose from. The approval process for tenants is seemingly fast. 

However, there are some complaints indicated in American Homes 4 Rent reviews about poor customer service, unsatisfactory conditions of the houses, and delays with maintenance. Customers also need help getting a deposit refund upon the end of the lease.

What has been your experience with AMH? You may leave a review on PissedConsumer.com or comment below this article to support other tenants in improving their customer experiences and enjoying the renting process.

*Disclaimer: Ranking and statistics are based on our users’ review texts and PissedConsumer posters’ reviews. Also, a company’s rating is calculated using a mathematical algorithm that evaluates the information in the profile, including users’ rating, the number of resolved issues, the number of company’s responses, etc. The algorithm is subject to change in the future.