Philly landlord illegally used rent-setting software: Tenant

Key Points:

• A Philadelphia tenant has filed a lawsuit against Willow Bridge Property Company and RealPage, alleging violations of a new city antitrust law that prohibits corporate landlords from price-fixing rental rates using software like RealPage.
• The lawsuit is the first under Philadelphia’s 2025 law, which aims to prevent landlords from coordinating rents through algorithms, a practice critics say inflates prices and reduces housing affordability.
• The complaint claims Willow Bridge illegally used RealPage’s software to set rents at two Philadelphia properties with 244 apartments, potentially harming renters by limiting market competition.
• This legal action follows a recent DOJ settlement with RealPage, which requires the company to stop using competitors’ sensitive data in rental pricing but imposes no fines or admission of wrongdoing.
• RealPage defends its software as a tool for informed decision-making in the housing market and views the DOJ agreement as a positive step for the industry and renters alike.