The Department of Justice, along with attorney generals from eight states, filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a rental software company, alleging that it uses algorithms to increase rent prices across the nation. The suit claims that RealPage’s software, YieldStar, collects sensitive data from landlords and rental companies to provide pricing recommendations that stifle competition and result in higher costs for renters. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Americans should not be subjected to inflated rent prices due to illegal collaboration between companies and landlords. RealPage’s software reportedly manages over 24 million rental units globally, and the DOJ’s complaint accuses the company of sharing confidential information with competing landlords to train YieldStar’s algorithms. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, accuses RealPage of violating Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. It also alleges that the company monopolizes the rental market, creating a cycle that strengthens its control and hinders fair competition. The attorney generals of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington joined the DOJ in the lawsuit, emphasizing the importance of upholding antitrust laws.
