Roundup: Letters Urging AGs to Investigate Troubled Corporate Landlords Get Notice

WASHINGTON, DC — Letters and research by corporate watchdog group Accountable.US sent to state attorneys general in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York urging investigations into major rental companies accused of illegal rent-price fixing in Washington D.C. that are also operating in their states, has garnered notice in local outlets including the New Jersey Monitor, The Denver Post, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and Colorado Newsline:

• Colorado groups ask Attorney General Phil Weiser to investigate rent-fixing allegations amid national scrutiny, The Denver Post: “The national watchdog group Accountable.US earlier sent two letters to Weiser’s office, as well as to attorneys general in other states, urging an investigation into potential price-fixing involving large property owners and RealPage. Accountable.US noted in one letter that several of the property owners facing allegations in the Washington, D.C., lawsuit also own thousands of apartment units in Colorado.” 

Story reprinted in The Olympian, Cañon City Daily Record, Arca Max, The Island Packet, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ledger Enquirer, Idaho Statesman, San Luis Obispo Tribune, Tri-City Herald, Miami Herald, The Herald-Sun, Bradenton Herald, Belleville News-Democrat, Centre Daily Times, The Midland State, The Bellingham Herald, Rock Hill Herald, The News Tribune, Union-Bulletin, The News & Observer, Sun Herald, The Sun News, The Charlotte Observer, Modesto Bee, Wichita Eagle, Lexington Herald-Leader, Merced Sun-Star, Denver Post

• Group wants state probe of real estate companies over rent-fixing claims, New Jersey Monitor: “A progressive watchdog group is urging the state attorney general to probe whether real estate companies in New Jersey are using an illegal scheme to raise rents and boost their profits…

‘Your office has the ability to determine whether these companies also stooped to illegal price-fixing and collusion in New Jersey to further pad their profits, as they allegedly have elsewhere — and power to hold them accountable if they did,’ the June 26 letter states.”

• Watchdog group calls for New Jersey to investigate price-fixing corporate landlords, NJ Today: “A nonpartisan corporate watchdog group, Accountable.US, has called on New Jersey State Attorney General Matt Platkin to investigate major rental companies for alleged illegal rent-price fixing…

‘If these companies were willing to allegedly engage in price fixing while surrounded by federal and local regulators in the nation’s capital and in other states, why wouldn’t they do the same in New Jersey?’ the letter from Accountable.US asks.”

• Watchdog urges Colorado AG to investigate corporate landlords for potential price fixing, Colorado Newsline: “The president of a nonpartisan corporate watchdog urged Colorado authorities Monday to investigate whether five companies colluded to artificially inflate rent prices…

Caroline Ciccone, president of Accountable.US, said in a letter to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser that his office should look into the companies that were included in a lawsuit from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, which alleges the companies illegally raised rent for residents by working together and sharing data with property management software company RealPage.”

• Report eyes profits of Atlanta landlords using RealPage, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Corporate landlords using RealPage’s tech recorded sharp increases in profits as tenants wrestled with high rents, according to a new report released by a D.C.-based think tank…

The report by progressive watchdog Accountable.US on six multifamily apartment companies, including three operating in Atlanta, found they enjoyed $300 million in combined profits during the first financial quarter of 2024. The group attributes the rising profits, at least in part, to rent increases.”