The state of New Jersey is taking legal action against landlords and companies that engage in what the state’s Attorney General alleges is illegal rent fixing.
The state of New Jersey is suing 10 of the state’s largest landlords and the property management software company RealPage Inc., reports Dana DiFilippo in New Jersey Monitor.
The lawsuit stems from allegations that the software allows landlords to artificially inflate rent prices and manipulate the market. The algorithmic software lets landlords align prices to avoid competition and force renters to pay higher prices overall. According to the state’s Attorney General, this violates the federal Sherman Act, the New Jersey Antitrust Act, and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. The AG accused the companies of ““unconscionable business practices that deceive and mislead consumers into believing the rental prices that they charge are market rate.”
The lawsuit alleges that the companies share confidential information to feed an “anticompetitive algorithm” that raises prices, amounting to a rent-setting cartel. “The U.S. Department of Justice filed a similar antitrust lawsuit against RealPage last year, and several private class-action lawsuits also have targeted the company’s software and practices.” Other cities and states are similarly raising the alarm and considering legislation to regulate rent-setting algorithms.
FULL STORY: New Jersey sues landlords, software company over rent-fixing claims
Minneapolis Bans Rent-Setting Software
Four cities have enacted restrictions on algorithmic software that can inflate rent costs.
Rents Rose Between December and January
After dropping to a three-year low, U.S. rent costs grew in many major cities.
US Rental Housing Prices Hit Three Year Low — and Still Out of Reach
The gap between median rental prices and incomes is shrinking in the US, but still falls short of affordability.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.
Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.
Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions