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Minneapolis bans rental-pricing algorithms that use nonpublic competitor data
Summary
The Minneapolis City Council voted to prohibit landlords from using algorithms that rely on nonpublic competitor data to set rents. Supporters said the tools inflate rents and increase evictions; opponents warned enforcement may hit small “mom-and-pop” owners and be hard to prove.
The Minneapolis City Council on March 27 approved an ordinance banning algorithms that use nonpublic competitor data to advise landlords on rent and vacancy levels, voting 11–2 to adopt the measure.
Advocates said the technology has already raised rents for many local renters and contributed to higher eviction rates in buildings where the tools are used. “Minneapolis is over 50% renters, and approximately 1 in 7 units in the Twin Cities is managed using rent‑tool algorithms,” Councilmember Wansley said as she introduced the ordinance. “In these units, renters pay on average about $312 more per year.”
The ordinance’s authors, Councilmembers Wansley and Ellison, framed the measure as preemptive…
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