×
AI drives rent prices higher, new study reveals
Written by
Published on
Join our daily newsletter for breaking news, product launches and deals, research breakdowns, and other industry-leading AI coverage
Join Now

Artificial intelligence software RealPage is being used by landlords nationwide to artificially inflate rental prices, resulting in an estimated $3.8 billion in additional costs for tenants annually.

The core issue: RealPage’s “AI Revenue Management” tool, used by approximately 25% of multifamily rental properties across the United States, is enabling landlords to coordinate pricing without direct communication.

  • The White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) has identified this practice as a form of price coordination, which violates federal antitrust laws
  • In cities like Atlanta and Denver, where more than 50% of properties use the software, tenants are paying up to $181 more per month
  • The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against RealPage over these practices

Legal implications: The use of AI for rental price setting appears to violate the Sherman Act, which prohibits anti-competitive practices and price fixing among market competitors.

  • RealPage’s algorithm recommends prices higher than what individual landlords would set independently
  • The software effectively enables landlords to operate as a cartel without direct communication
  • Traditional price-fixing requires explicit agreements between competitors, making this AI-enabled version particularly difficult to prove

Industry defense and countersuit: RealPage maintains its innocence while facing multiple legal challenges.

  • The company claims customers have complete discretion to accept or reject pricing recommendations
  • A class action lawsuit, however, alleges RealPage and landlords have implemented strict monitoring systems to ensure compliance with AI-optimized pricing
  • Evidence suggests participation in the program involves significant pressure to follow the AI’s recommendations

Broader economic impact: The true cost to renters likely exceeds the $3.8 billion estimate.

  • The CEA’s calculation only includes direct price increases from properties using RealPage
  • Non-participating landlords often raise their prices in response to competitors using the AI tool
  • The ripple effect throughout rental markets suggests a more extensive impact on overall housing affordability

Technology’s role in market manipulation: This case demonstrates how AI can be used to circumvent traditional antitrust regulations while achieving similar anti-competitive outcomes.

  • The use of AI as an intermediary creates a legal gray area in antitrust enforcement
  • The technology enables coordinated pricing behavior without traditional evidence of collusion
  • This practice could set a concerning precedent for other industries looking to coordinate pricing through algorithmic means
Rent Too High? Blame AI, New Report Finds

Recent News

Plexe unleashes multi-agent AI to build machine learning models from natural language

Plexe's open-source tool translates natural language instructions into functional machine learning models through a collaborative AI agent system, eliminating the need for coding expertise.

Claude outshines its rivals in high-pressure AI interview test

Hands-on experiment reveals Claude 3.7 Sonnet outperforms competitors with superior analytical thinking and professional communication in simulated hiring scenario.

How AI lets startups stay lean and win big

AI-powered startups are maintaining smaller, more efficient teams while expanding their reach, challenging traditional notions that scaling requires proportional headcount growth.