The U.S. Division of Justice (DOJ) sued RealPage on Friday after a two-year investigation that included an unannounced FBI raid of a nationwide company landlord. The DOJ alleged that Richardson, Texas-based RealPage, which sells actual property software program, decreased competitors amongst landlords and artificially inflated rents for thousands and thousands of tenants throughout the nation.
“We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm permits landlords to share confidential, competitively delicate info and align their rents,” lawyer basic Merrick B. Garland acknowledged in a press launch.
The DOJ filed the 115-page grievance within the U.S. District Court docket for the Center District of North Carolina on Friday. The antitrust lawsuit particulars how RealPage signed contracts with landlords who would in any other case be rivals and picked up delicate, detailed details about hire costs, lease phrases, facilities and occupancy charges.
RealPage then allegedly fed the knowledge to its AI-driven algorithm, which gave landlords suggestions on the right way to worth leases and set phrases for rental agreements. The DOJ additionally accused the corporate of making certain landlords accepted its suggestions by sending out pricing advisors to fulfill with them for “accountability conversations” and including an “auto settle for” function so landlords would mechanically approve worth will increase.
In 2020, RealPage stated its software program collected knowledge on 16 million rental models of the 22 million investment-grade condo models within the U.S., indicating its broad attain.
U.S. Legal professional Common Merrick Garland (C), U.S. Deputy Legal professional Common Lisa Monaco (L) and U.S. Appearing Affiliate Legal professional Common Benjamin Mizer (R). Photograph Credit score: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures
“As Individuals wrestle to afford housing, RealPage is making it simpler for landlords to coordinate to extend rents,” assistant lawyer basic Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Division’s Antitrust Division acknowledged, including that “competitors – not RealPage – ought to decide what Individuals pay to hire their properties.”
The DOJ filed the lawsuit with the attorneys basic of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington. State attorneys basic for Arizona and Washington, D.C., have already taken authorized motion towards RealPage this 12 months.
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In a press release, RealPage stated the DOJ’s claims have been “devoid of advantage” and “will do nothing to make housing extra inexpensive.” The lawsuit “seeks to scapegoat pro-competitive expertise,” the corporate claimed.
The non-partisan nonprofit American Financial Liberties Mission (AELP) took a unique stance. In an emailed assertion to Entrepreneur, AELP senior authorized counsel Lee Hepner pointed to RealPage’s personal advertising and marketing, highlighted by the DOJ, which acknowledged that the corporate took “each doable alternative” to boost costs.
“Working folks have sufficient issues affording day by day requirements with out RealPage bragging that it seizes ‘each doable alternative’ to extend rents,” Hepner acknowledged.
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