Rent set by algorithm? Berkeley bans landlords from using pricing software
Briefly

In a significant move, Berkeley's City Council has banned the use of algorithms by landlords for rent pricing, following concerns that such software contributes to inflated housing costs. The ordinance specifically targets tools from RealPage, which critics allege enable collusion among property owners reminiscent of price-fixing tactics. Supporters of the ban argue that it will protect local renters and work against a market that is increasingly skewed by these algorithms, echoing similar legislative actions in other cities like San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.
Berkeley's City Council banned algorithms used by landlords to coordinate rent pricing, aiming to counteract practices they believe contribute to inflated rents and a housing crisis.
Critics argue that RealPage's pricing software makes landlords operate like a cartel, sharing data that leads to illegal price-fixing, raising concerns about housing affordability.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
[
|
]