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DOJ/Garland Does Not Want Landlords Sharing Rental Information

Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:38 pm
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
12119 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:38 pm
The Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit against the real estate company RealPage, alleging the company’s software uses landlord data to artificially inflate the price of rent across the United States by quelling competition in the market. According to the complaint, the Texas-based company uses nonpublic data from landlords to train RealPage’s algorithm for pricing recommendations, creating a “vast scheme to subvert the competitive process,” one Justice Department official said.

“Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement Friday. “We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents.”

The software, according to the complaint, uses non-public data provided by landlords to see what competitors are charging or offering to maximize the amount landlords can charge as well as other ways they can make more money from renters.

“The rent is too damn high, and this is one of the reasons why,” Garland told reporters during a press conference on Friday.


LINK
This post was edited on 8/23/24 at 2:39 pm
Posted by roadGator
Member since Feb 2009
154133 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:41 pm to
In 15 minutes or less I could figure out the rent for a house. The computer can do it in a millisecond.

What’s the rub?
Posted by Purple Spoon
Hoth
Member since Feb 2005
20092 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:42 pm to
Seems like a pretty shitty practice. Collectively jacking the rates up in a given market for a larger profit margin.

Not in favor of government intervention but this stinks.
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
34058 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:44 pm to
quote:

company uses nonpublic data from landlords to train RealPage’s algorithm for pricing recommendations, creating a “vast scheme to subvert the competitive process


So, feeding an algorithm bad data to get a desired result is now the concern of the DOJ?

Al Gore and climate change fraudsters are fricked now
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
72611 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:45 pm to
quote:

In 15 minutes or less I could figure out the rent for a house. The computer can do it in a millisecond.

What’s the rub?


It seems to be more about the collusion aspect. All the landlords in an area getting together to fix prices. That's been illegal for a hundred years. Just because they are using an app to do it, doesn't make it legal.

I don't know anything about this specific case, that's just what I took away from the excerpt in OP.
Posted by RedmanChew
Member since Jun 2024
447 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:45 pm to
this seems like the first govt intervention that I agree with.

Now go after that variable pricing BS Amazon does.
Posted by TrueTiger
Chicken's most valuable
Member since Sep 2004
79609 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:48 pm to
We have a first amendment right to share information.
Posted by David_DJS
Member since Aug 2005
21738 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:51 pm to
quote:

What’s the rub?

It's collusion.
Posted by David_DJS
Member since Aug 2005
21738 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:52 pm to
quote:

We have a first amendment right to share information.

That's not what's happening.

Complex owners are signing over their pricing strategy/plan/decision-making to third parties, who sign up all the competition and set prices for a market.

You can't outsource your collusion/price fixing.
This post was edited on 8/23/24 at 2:54 pm
Posted by Timeoday
Easter Island
Member since Aug 2020
16828 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:56 pm to
Here it comes folks. This is the setup for the National Rental Price freeze Kamabla will soon be espousing.

Posted by roadGator
Member since Feb 2009
154133 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 2:56 pm to
I missed the not publicly available part.
Posted by Taxing Authority
Houston
Member since Feb 2010
62433 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:01 pm to
quote:

“We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents.”
Realpage are a bunch of pricks, but data mining isn’t a crime. Anyone that looks up comps would be a criminal.

Why isn’t Garland going after appraisers?
Posted by David_DJS
Member since Aug 2005
21738 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:03 pm to
quote:

Here it comes folks. This is the setup for the National Rental Price freeze Kamabla will soon be espousing.

Democrats will weaponize anything, but reality is this practice is blatantly illegal and has undergone scrutiny predating Garland, and in the case of the state of AZ - our Dem AG.
Posted by Gaspergou202
Metairie, LA
Member since Jun 2016
14190 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:04 pm to
Remember

100% of Democrats claimed this arse wipe was a moderate!

Would have ruined the Court. Thanks Turtle! Now please retire.
Posted by C
Houston
Member since Dec 2007
28144 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:13 pm to
How is that different than what airbnb does?
Posted by CScott
Member since Sep 2011
19 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:15 pm to
I work for Realpage’s biggest client in the apartment industry. The software is called Yieldstar. Do a google search. It’s both creative and great for owners of these assets…but it definitely sucks for renters.
Posted by BamaGradinTn
Murfreesboro
Member since Dec 2008
28456 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:20 pm to
quote:

this seems like the first govt intervention that I agree with.



They sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster back in May. The only thing the Biden administration had done that I liked.
Posted by David_DJS
Member since Aug 2005
21738 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

How is that different than what airbnb does?

I don't know how aribnb works. Does airbnb set prices for the property owners?
Posted by BamaGradinTn
Murfreesboro
Member since Dec 2008
28456 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:22 pm to
quote:

data mining isn’t a crime.


Maybe not, but sharing that data with others to collude to fix prices is most definitely a crime.
Posted by Bard
Definitely NOT an admin
Member since Oct 2008
57644 posts
Posted on 8/23/24 at 3:22 pm to
quote:

Realpage are a bunch of pricks, but data mining isn’t a crime. Anyone that looks up comps would be a criminal.


They're doing a little more than that, they are working with landlords to set prices in an area (ie: collude). This is completely counter to the idea behind free market competition.

quote:

Why isn’t Garland going after appraisers?


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