• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune

3

Current price of oil as of August 21, 2026

1

‘Take time in quiet’: Melinda French Gates says to spend at least 10 minutes a day on self-care

2

Harry and Meghan's homecoming comes with a multimillion-dollar tax catch—waiting four years could have shielded their $60 million fortune

3

Current price of oil as of August 21, 2026
Real EstateHousing

America’s landlords settle claim they used rent-setting algorithms to gouge consumers nationwide for $141 million

By
R.J. Rico
R.J. Rico
and
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
R.J. Rico
R.J. Rico
and
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 3, 2025, 5:25 PM ET
Landlords
Big landlords are settling a rent-setting algorithm class action.Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/picture alliance via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Real estate giant Greystar and 25 other property management companies have agreed to collectively pay more than $141 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing landlords of driving up housing costs by using rent-setting algorithms offered by the software company RealPage.

Recommended Video

Greystar, the nation’s largest landlord, would pay $50 million under the proposed settlement agreement, which was filed Wednesday in a Tennessee federal court. The deal would still require a judge’s approval.

The companies have also agreed to no longer share nonpublic information with RealPage for its rent algorithm — a key stipulation, since plaintiffs say RealPage used that information to enable landlords to align their prices and push up rents.

“This represents a fundamental shift in the multifamily housing industry and will help reverse the type of anticompetitive coordination alleged in the Complaint,” attorneys wrote in the settlement filing.

All companies involved in the settlement deny wrongdoing and have agreed to help plaintiffs in the ongoing case against RealPage and more than a dozen other property management firms that have not reached settlements. RealPage and others are also fighting an antitrust lawsuit filed last year by the Department of Justice and several state attorneys general. Greystar reached a settlement in that case in August.

The settlement funds from the class action lawsuit would be distributed among millions of tenants included in the settlement class.

In a statement, Greystar said these settlements “allow us to move forward and remain focused on serving our residents and clients.” Headquartered in South Carolina, Greystar manages more than 946,000 units nationwide, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council.

RealPage has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and argues that the plaintiffs misunderstand how their product works. RealPage, which is based in Texas, has said its software is used on fewer than 10% of rental units in the U.S., and that its price recommendations are used less than half the time.

“While the proposed settlements … do not include RealPage, we are encouraged to see this matter move toward closure,” Jennifer Bowcock, RealPage’s senior vice president for communications, said in a statement. “RealPage continues to believe that this litigation is without merit and that our revenue management products, and our customers’ use of them, have always been legal.”

RealPage software provides daily recommendations to help landlords and their employees price their available apartments. The landlords do not have to follow the suggestions, but critics argue that because the software has access to a vast trove of confidential data, it helps RealPage’s clients charge the highest possible rent.

RealPage argues that the real driver of high rents is a lack of housing supply. It also says that its pricing recommendations often encourage landlords to drop rents since landlords are incentivized to maximize revenue and maintain high occupancy.

Among the other defendants, Iowa-based BH Management would pay $15 million, while Denver-based Simpson Property Group would pay $6.5 million. The other companies’ settlements range between $550,000 and $6 million.

Fortune Daily breaks the traditional barrier between audience and newsroom. The show transforms Fortune’s trusted reporting into actionable, conversational, and entertaining insights for an emerging class of business leaders. Watch here.
About the Authors
By R.J. Rico
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By The Associated Press
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Real Estate


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Real Estate


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.