Justice Department Accuses RealPage of a Scheme to Help Landlords Hike Rents in Antitrust Lawsuit

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 23: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Department of Justice on August 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. Officials with the Department of Justice held the news conference to make an announcement pertaining to their antitrust lawsuit against the real estate software company RealPage. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against real estate software company RealPage, accusing it of an illegal scheme that allows landlords to coordinate to hike rental prices. The lawsuit accuses the company of violating antitrust laws through its algorithm that landlords use to get recommended rental prices for apartments. Justice Department officials say the algorithm allows landlords to align their prices and avoid competition that would keep rents down. In a statement, RealPage said the Justice Department’s claims were “devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable.”