DOJ Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Six Landlords

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), joined by attorneys general from ten states, has filed an antitrust lawsuit in North Carolina against six major landlords and property management software company RealPage. The lawsuit accuses them of colluding to inflate rental prices using algorithmic pricing tools by sharing sensitive rental information, impacting millions of renters nationwide. The defendants—Greystar, LivCor, Camden, Cushman & Wakefield, Willow Bridge, and Cortland—allegedly exchanged non-public data like lease terms and occupancy rates to coordinate pricing strategies. Cortland has agreed to a proposed settlement, discontinuing its use of RealPage's software and cooperating with investigators. The implicated landlords operate over 1.3 million rental units across 43 states, including significant operations in areas like Houston and North Carolina. Greystar and other defendants maintain they have not engaged in anti-competitive practices and plan to defend themselves vigorously.