Washington AG sues RealPage, landlords over alleged rent price-fixing conspiracy

SEATTLE — The Washington Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court against software company RealPage and nine local landlords, accusing them of engaging in a conspiracy that has led to rapidly increasing rent prices.

The lawsuit alleges that RealPage's software tools enable landlords to push rental prices beyond what they could otherwise achieve while reducing the risk of being undercut by competitors.

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"RealPage’s unfair practices are cheating renters and pricing families out of stable housing," said Brown. "Washington is facing a housing crisis and we must respond with every available tool."

The state had previously been part of a multi-state antitrust lawsuit led by the U.S. Department of Justice but withdrew to pursue this challenge in state court.

The lawsuit alleges six violations of the state Consumer Protection Act and seeks restitution for Washington renters.

An estimated 800,000 leases in the state were priced using RealPage software between 2017 and 2024.

The investigation found that RealPage’s pricing software collects nonpublic, competitively sensitive data from landlords, which is used to recommend rent increases. Feedback from a potential client described the software as "classic price fixing."

The lawsuit claims that RealPage’s software discourages pro-renter practices like price negotiations and concessions, instead favoring the highest possible prices. It also alleges that RealPage organized a conspiracy of landlords through user groups to discuss competitively sensitive topics and build anticompetitive strategies.

The lawsuit seeks to end these practices and prevent further collusion, coordination of pricing and occupancy, and the sharing of competitively sensitive information.

RealPage provided this statement in response to Brown's announcement:

"Washington State AG Nick Brown decided to recycle misleading and inaccurate allegations from predecessor cases, despite our efforts to constructively engage with his Office to help resolve their misunderstandings. RealPage’s revenue management software is purposely designed and built to be legally compliant and has always used data legally and responsibly, and we have a long history of working constructively to show that.

"RealPage’s revenue management software uses data responsibly, aids compliance with Fair Housing laws, rent control laws and state of emergency price gouging laws and does not use any personal or demographic data to generate rent price recommendations.

"We believe the claims brought by Washington State AG Nick Brown are devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable. Washington State should stop scapegoating pro-competitive technology, and we encourage Washington State's public leaders to focus on meeting the greater demand for housing with more supply.

"Washington State's residents deserve real solutions to increase access to affordable housing."