A New Culprit in the Housing Crisis: Rent-Setting Software Algorithms

Rent-setting algorithms inflate housing costs by illegally fixing rent prices among the large group of landlords that use them. This memo outlines steps local governments can take to combat algorithmic price fixing and recommends using ordinances to ban these practices and working with state or local investigatory authorities to report usage and enforce price fixing regulations. It also features model state and local legislation that prohibits rent coordination.