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Seattle council briefing flags ordinance to ban algorithmic rent price‑fixing
Summary
Council members discussed an ordinance on the introduction calendar that would prohibit landlords and third‑party vendors from using algorithmic tools to set or coordinate rents, citing state investigations and the scale of the practice in Washington.
Seattle council members at a June 9 briefing highlighted an ordinance on the introduction and referral calendar that would prohibit algorithmic rent price‑fixing by landlords and service providers.
The bill — listed on the introduction and referral calendar as “an ordinance relating to prohibiting algorithmic rent fixing and adding a new chapter” — drew attention during councilmember reports because of recent state enforcement and the scope of software use statewide.
The councilmember who described the measure said that Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has sued companies such as RealPage and that “investigations found that properties using the software saw higher rent increases and had higher vacancy rates than properties not using RealPage.” The same councilmember said investigators estimated “the 800,000 leases in Washington were priced using RealPage software between 2017 and 2024.”
The speaker also said the state legislature considered a similar bill this year, passing it in the Senate while the House ran out of time to pass a final measure. The briefing attendee said the City Council office has sought legal advice from the city law department and has met with stakeholders, including the state senator who sponsored the bill.
The councilmember noted two identical city bills had been submitted and that the council president had placed the version sponsored by a colleague on the introduction calendar; the speaker said the bills are identical and that they will work together to advance the legislation.
No formal vote on the ordinance occurred during the briefing; the item appears on the full council agenda for introduction and referral. Further committee scheduling and any public hearings will be set after formal referral.
