Justice Department Sues RealPage Over Antitrust Claims

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage Inc., accusing the real estate software company of facilitating illegal collusion among landlords to raise rental prices. The lawsuit, supported by attorneys general from several states including California and North Carolina, claims that RealPage's algorithm enables landlords to coordinate pricing by sharing confidential rent data, thus violating antitrust laws. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Americans should not be subjected to higher rents due to such illegal practices. RealPage has responded by calling the allegations 'false and misleading,' asserting that landlords retain the freedom to set their own prices. This legal action is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to enforce antitrust laws, following other high-profile cases against major corporations. Rising rents have significantly contributed to inflation, which is a pressing issue for many Americans today.