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Fanwood council urges state to ban algorithmic rental-pricing software
Summary
After public comment urging action, the Fanwood mayor and council adopted a consent-agenda resolution urging the state to ban algorithmic rental-pricing software, citing concerns that such algorithms can enable collusion and keep rents high; the resolution passed as part of the consent agenda.
A resident urged the Fanwood council to act on algorithmic rental-pricing software and the council adopted a resolution urging the state to ban the technology as part of its April 20 consent agenda.
During public comment, Sean Foley of Scotch Plains thanked the mayor and council for considering a resolution to urge the state to ban algorithmic rental-pricing software, which he said developers and leasing companies use to set rents and that, according to Foley, can facilitate collusion rather than competition. He referenced recent attorney-general activity in New Jersey alleging developers used pricing software to coordinate rents.
The consent agenda read at the meeting included resolution 2026-04-112 "urging the state of New Jersey to ban algorithm rental pricing software." Council moved, seconded and adopted the consent agenda on a roll-call vote with all present members voting yes, making the resolution part of the council's official record. The passing of the resolution is a request to the state legislature and executive branch; it does not itself change borough ordinance or local housing policy.
Councilmembers noted other communities are passing similar resolutions and framed the Fanwood action as joining a broader call for state-level review of algorithmic pricing tools and their effect on fair rental markets.
