NC Settles Rent-Fixing Case with Cortland Management

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a settlement with Cortland Management LLC, the state's second-largest landlord, accused of illegally fixing rent prices using AI technology from RealPage. The settlement requires Cortland to stop using sensitive competitive data to set rents, marking a significant step in addressing alleged antitrust violations within the rental market. Jackson emphasized that landlords were using AI tools to collude on pricing, which harms renters by inflating costs. This case is part of a broader lawsuit involving several other major landlords and RealPage, which collectively manage over 70,000 units statewide. The settlement not only restricts Cortland's practices but also includes compliance inspections to ensure adherence to the agreement. Litigation against RealPage and the other implicated landlords will continue as Jackson seeks to uphold fair market competition in North Carolina's rental market.