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Councilor Murillo introduces ordinance to ban algorithmic rental‑pricing tools; supporters urge urgent action
Summary
Councilor Murillo introduced a draft ordinance to amend Portland’s affordable housing code to ban the sale and use of algorithmic rental‑pricing tools, and tenants’ groups and neighborhood advocates urged the committee to move quickly to curb software they say facilitates price‑fixing and inflates rents.
Councilor Murillo introduced a proposed ordinance to amend Portland’s affordable housing code to prohibit anti‑competitive rental practices, including the sale and use of algorithmic rental‑pricing software. Murillo said the measure targets corporate landlords using third‑party tools that, she said, remove competitive pricing from the rental market and contribute to rent increases.
Murillo described enforcement and remedies in the draft ordinance: a private right of action for tenants and tenant groups, a civil penalty floor (the draft provides a $10,000 statutory damages floor per lease period or treble actual damages, whichever is greater), and recovery of attorney’s fees if a plaintiff prevails. Murillo’s office told the committee it deliberately did not add a new city enforcement unit…
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