King County committee backs ordinance banning algorithmic rent fixing; moves to full council

The King County Health, Housing and Human Services Committee on Sept. 11 recommended that the full council consider an ordinance that would ban algorithmic rent fixing in unincorporated King County. The committee approved an amendment clarifying permitted uses and voted 3–1 to forward the ordinance as amended.

The ordinance would add a new chapter to King County Code Title 12 making it unlawful for two or more landlords to “enter into an agreement, verbal, written or inferred from conduct, to establish rental prices,” to contract with a service provider that offers coordinating services, or for a service provider to deliver coordinating services to two or more landlords. The draft would also create a private right of action with statutory damages up to $7,500 per violation and require an executive study on enforcement…