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Missoula Takes Stand Against Price-Fixing Algorithms in Rental Market

By  |  July 16, 2025

On Monday night, the Missoula City Council passed a resolution encouraging property rental management companies to refrain from using price-fixing software in setting rental rates. According to a statement from the council, the move reflects growing concerns about the impact such technology may have on renters and housing affordability.

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    The resolution, which stops short of naming specific software, was adopted amid national scrutiny of tools like RealPage. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against six major landlords accusing them of using RealPage’s algorithm to manipulate rental prices. Per a statement from the DOJ, the software allegedly uses confidential data shared among these companies to create an artificially coordinated rental market, resulting in inflated rent costs.

    Read more: Judge Denies Burford-Backed Firms’ Bid to Exit Turkey Price-Fixing Settlement

    Council Members Daniel Carlino and Kristen Jordan sponsored the resolution to demonstrate the city’s support for renters facing increasing financial strain. Per a statement from Carlino, “Anything that we can do at the city council level to help alleviate the cost of rent and the burden, I think is a positive thing.”

    While the resolution does not impose legal restrictions, it signals Missoula’s stance against practices that may contribute to unfair rental pricing. The council’s action adds to a broader national conversation about technology’s role in housing markets and consumer protections.

    Source: KPax