Shell FCs are a bigger problem than we think...

[worldofneil]

Someone we spoke to about this contacted GM's and was told this is just fine.

Yes, because any standard account is allowed to buy 8 FC houses and 1 personal house, per world. There was a temporary restriction on FC houses, but that only lasted one week. For whatever reason the housing mini site was never updated to reflect that the temporary restriction was removed (and since nothing in-game points to that site, most people won't even see it and even know there were restrictions)

A level 2, holding a FC w/ a house plot is fine, but my level 27 alt can't even get a room in our FC house?

That's because the requirements are different.

An FC house needs a FC that is rank 6 or higher, the level of the player isn't important because the house is owned by the Free Company.

For personal housing (FC room, apartment or an actual house) it requires the player is level 50+ and has at least second lieutenant rank with their grand company (also if it's Shirogane then they need to have finished 4.0 MSQ too).