Stephanie Spear 
A lawsuit filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Plotkin is the latest parry in the state’s attempts to curb, or even ban, rent-setting algorithms. Attorney General Plotkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs have filed a lawsuit against 10 New Jersey landlords and the property management software company RealPage. The lawsuit will proceed while the State Legislature considers a proposal to prohibit rent-setting algorithms. Both the Hoboken and Jersey City Councils have expressed their support for the prohibition. Read on for more about New Jersey’s efforts to quash rent-setting algorithms.
Lawsuit
According to a press release from the Attorney General’s Office, “RealPage and the landlords (collectively “defendants”) allegedly agreed to set rents for multifamily housing properties statewide based on RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software and to exchange sensitive, non-public information to align their prices and avoid competition that would otherwise keep rent prices down.”
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“This lawsuit is about putting a stop to corporate greed at its worst,” said Jeremy Hollander, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “The housing market in New Jersey is already stacked in favor of landlords but the defendants wanted more. Together, they conspired to replace normal market forces with pricing software designed to drive rents to levels that exceed what would prevail in a competitive market. Their unlawful conduct forced New Jersey residents to pay unlawfully inflated prices for what is often the largest single expense in their lives: rent.”
“Along with the Texas-based RealPage, the complaint names Morgan Properties Management Company LLC; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Kamson Corp.; LeFrak Estates, L.P. (“LeFrak”) and its subsidiary, Realty Operations Group LLC; Greystar Management Services, LLC (“Greystar”); Aion Management LLC; Cammeby’s Management Co. of New Jersey L.P.; Veris Residential, Inc.(“Veris”); Russo Property Management, LLC; and Bozzuto Management Company (“Bozzuto”) (collectively, “defendant landlords”), who collectively own and manage at least tens of thousands of rental units statewide.” Additional landlords are referenced but not named, and further defendants could be added as the suit proceeds.
“The defendants in this case unlawfully lined their pockets at the expense of New Jersey renters who struggled to pay the increasingly unlivable price levels imposed by this cartel,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Today we’re holding them accountable for unlawful conduct that fueled the state’s affordable housing crisis and deprived New Jerseyans of their fundamental right to shelter.”
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025.
Hoboken readers may recall that In 2023, several residents were joined by the City of Hoboken in a lawsuit against property management company Avalon, alleging that the company had not gotten an exemption from rent control laws. The tenants and the City prevailed in fall 2023, meaning that the company was to use rent-control pricing measures.
With this lawsuit, New Jersey is now the ninth state to take legal action against RealPage. In August 2024, the US Department of Justice joined Attorneys General of North Carolina, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington in suing RealPage.
“As Americans struggle to afford housing, RealPage is making it easier for landlords to coordinate to increase rents,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division via a press release. “Today, we filed an antitrust suit against RealPage to make housing more affordable for millions of people across the country. Competition – not RealPage – should determine what Americans pay to rent their homes.”
Legislative Proposal
Two separate bills prohibiting the use of a rent-setting algorithm have been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature this year. On the Assembly side, Bill A4916 “Prohibits use and sale of algorithmic devices for setting rent price or occupancy of residential dwelling units.” The bill was introduced and then referred to the Assembly Housing Committee.
On the Senate side, Bill S3657 was introduced in the Senate. The bill was then referred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
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In Summer 2024, both the Hoboken and Jersey City Councils endorsed the proposal, encouraging lawmakers to take action.
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