States Sue Federal Government Over Housing Standards

A coalition of 15 state attorneys general, led by Texas and Utah, along with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over newly implemented energy-efficiency standards for homes. The plaintiffs argue that these standards, based on the International Energy Conservation Code, are unconstitutional and could significantly increase home construction costs, potentially adding up to $31,000 per new home. They claim that the regulations could exacerbate the housing shortage and harm vulnerable populations by making housing less affordable. Additionally, Massachusetts has joined an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage and several large landlords for allegedly engaging in practices that harm renters, further highlighting the ongoing challenges in the housing market. The Justice Department's proposed consent decree against one involved landlord, Cortland, seeks to curb the sharing of sensitive pricing information. Both lawsuits reflect broader concerns regarding housing affordability and competition in the real estate sector.