We Found That Landlords Could Be Using Algorithms to Fix Rent Prices. Now Lawmakers Want to Make the Practice Illegal.

4 comments

1. >The proposed law follows [a ProPublica investigation The proposed law follows a ProPublica investigation that found software sold by Texas-based RealPage was collecting proprietary data from landlords and feeding it into an algorithm that recommended what rents they should charge. Legal experts said the arrangement could help landlords engage in cartel-like behavior if they used it to coordinate pricing.](https://www.propublica.org/article/yieldstar-rent-increase-realpage-rent)

   >The software is widely used by competing landlords. In Seattle, for example, ProPublica found that 10 property managers oversaw 70% of all multifamily apartments in one neighborhood — and every single one used pricing software sold by RealPage. that found software sold by Texas-based RealPage was collecting proprietary data from landlords and feeding it into an algorithm that recommended what rents they should charge. Legal experts said the arrangement could help landlords engage in cartel-like behavior if they used it to coordinate pricing.

   [](https://propublica.org/)

   [](https://propublica.org/)

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2. My complex I’ve lived at for 3 years said my rent was going up to $1,550 while the exact same floor plan was going for $1,320 online with the same upgrades, same amenities and same building. I asked why I’m being charged so much more than what is online and the leasing attendant said this is the number the machine gave her and she couldn’t change it.

   Now I’m shopping apartments.

3. They want to…but its *sooo hard*.

4. This is what happens when Wall St hedge funds buy up apartment complexes. All they care about is maximizing profits.