WA joins federal antitrust lawsuit against real estate company for alleged rent-fixing

These big corporate landlords almost ALL use a rent software not just RealPage. There’s one called Yardi as well. DOJ should be investing all states with cities that have a population of over 1 million. There are too few states listed on the civil lawsuit. There are FAR MORE than those listed.

The standard used to be anything between 2% to 5%. The rent on my office has gone from $500 to $650. Absolutely despicable

Price fixing... jail time.

I recently moved and I watched the rent on a place I looked at jump from $1575 to $1675 in less that 3 weeks, it then took another just to $1775 in another 3 weeks. The management company is Thrive.

my rent has doubled- SOME SAY IF I DONT LIKE IT MOVE. I CANT EVEN AFFORD TO MOVE...

They're not the only company they should investigate deeper into this

This same thing happened in AZ, in fact companies like Greystar are currently being investigated by the state Attorney General for a big price fixing scheme during the pandemic

It's about damn time

I just wanna say that back in 2020 i could still afford an apartment. Now not so much. Nothing has changed about my situation , i still work 5 days a week at least and even got a couple raises. How is it possible that i cant afford rent now ? Ive literally been priced out of my apartment and cant afford to rent anywhere new. Now i live in my truck

My family has been living in Seattle since 1910. Being a landlord and ripping off these rich out of town tech nerds is my right

This couldn't have worked without the assistance of local politicians that over taxed and over regulated small, single family, low income rentals. Fifteen years ago, when the UW still had low income students, one could find an old house in Fremont to rent if they couldn't afford the U-District. Today nearly all have been replaced by corporate owned micro condos and densely populated apartment buildings that are unaffordable to a low income student. Charging a software company but not charging the Governer, Mayor or City Councilmen is a do nothing, expensive action.

Rent should only cost renter's 20 to 30 percent of their income. Make this a law and fix it! People are struggling to live and our leaders could careless.

Tax empty apartments after 90 days on market

Rents went up in Seattle because the City Council raised the minimum wage and they added more landlord regulations which added cost to the leasing process. Also, there is a $7-$35 per sq ft tax (Hala) added to all new construction apts. This lawsuit is simply Trojan horse attempt at rent control.

What happened to the mantra that all real estate is local and every unit is individually priced by it's own attributes such as view, access to buses, schools, etc.? The software just estimates the highest price renters are willing to pay given those attributes. Where people have an issue is the fact that 'deals' are disappearing and everyone is forced to pay market rates. Also isn't the biggest landlord actually the city? They control thousands of housing units all subsides by taxpayers. Doesn't the software have to compete with them? And they don't even have to turn a profit.

lawsuit against the landlord of Washington state good for you

Signature Realtor, in alaska, should be looked at.

Yeah! Hooray for this!! This is so great! Love that Lina, good for Ferg to join in the suit!!

I'm thinking property taxes and the 970-million-dollar housing levies that have dumped onto property owners have more to to with this than anything else. Don't vote for this nonsense and then complain about it.

Now side show bb does something, oh wait he loves law suits