NC attorney general reaches $7M settlement with state’s largest landlord over rent-pricing practices

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and eight other states have reached a $7 million settlement with Greystar Management LLC, the state’s largest landlord, over alleged rent-pricing practices that used artificial intelligence and nonpublic data to coordinate and raise rental rates across more than 25,000 units in North Carolina.​

Settlement Details

• Greystar agreed to cease using nonpublic information from competitors to set rents, including through RealPage’s controversial AI software that was accused of helping landlords collude to artificially inflate rental prices.​

• Greystar will now only use public data, like asking rents and advertised concessions posted online, to determine rental rates—excluding private or competitive data not available to the public.​

• Compliance will be monitored by the Attorney General’s Office, with Greystar required to report regularly and subject to inspections to ensure it is following the settlement.​

Impact and Context

• The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that Greystar and several other major landlords violated antitrust laws by working together and using advanced pricing tools to keep rents high, harming renters and smaller landlords who priced fairly.​

• The $7 million fine will be distributed among the states involved and represents a step toward ensuring fairer housing costs during a period of record-high rents.​

• Greystar denied wrongdoing and claimed the settlement was “not an admission of liability,” but agreed to the terms to resolve the matter.​

Continuing Legal Action

• The North Carolina Attorney General’s case against four other landlords and RealPage remains active, with broader allegations of rent collusion still at stake. These landlords collectively manage over 70,000 units in the state, and the outcomes could have further consequences for national rent-setting practices.​

This case highlights increased scrutiny on digital rent-pricing algorithms and collaborative practices believed to reduce competition and increase housing costs for millions of renters.