DOJ Sues RealPage Over Antitrust Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice, along with eight states, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, alleging that the company facilitated collusion among landlords to inflate rental prices. The lawsuit claims that RealPage's software allows landlords to share sensitive pricing information, effectively eliminating competition and harming renters across the United States. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that using an algorithm for price-fixing does not exempt RealPage from antitrust laws. The allegations follow an FBI raid on another rental company linked to RealPage, prompting calls for further investigations into corporate landlords. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Sherman Act and seeks to hold RealPage accountable for its conduct in the rental market. The DOJ plans to rigorously enforce antitrust laws to protect consumers from anti-competitive behavior.