Rent

Supreme Court Backs New York Rent Stabilization, Affirming Key Tenant Safeguards

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Washington D.C. — In a landmark decision that affects hundreds of thousands of residents, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of New York City’s rent stabilization laws. This ruling preserves regulations that protect tenants from steep rent increases and potential evictions in one of the most expensive rental markets in the United States. The court’s decision effectively puts an end to a contentious battle over these regulations, which some property owners argue stifle investment and maintenance of rental properties. The upheld laws ensure that over one million apartments in New York City will … Read more

Berkeley Tenants Union Accuses Landlord Group of Illicit Campaign Tactics Amid Rent Control Battles

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Berkeley, Calif. – The Berkeley Tenants Union, a local advocacy group representing around 70 tenants, is escalating its dispute with the Berkeley Property Owners Association (BPOA) by lodging formal complaints to municipal and state election watchdogs over alleged inappropriate campaign practices and financial disclosures. The union accuses the BPOA of obfuscation in its recent initiatives on the city’s ballot, particularly in relation to campaign contributions linked to the National Association of Realtors. The bone of contention largely centers on the campaigning for Measure CC in the November 5 election, which was defeated after securing only … Read more

Michigan Renters Rally for Legislative Relief Amid Soaring Rent Costs and Housing Inequities

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Lansing, Michigan – As rents in Michigan continue to rise, burdening many tenants, state legislators are facing heightened pressure to adopt a set of bills aimed at providing relief to renters. According to recent data, the average cost of renting in the state has seen an increase of 4.7% in the last year. This surge in rental costs is affecting over half of Michigan renters, forcing them to spend more than 30% of their monthly income on housing. The proposed legislative package addresses several aspects of the rental market, including anti-discrimination measures that would prevent … Read more

Justice Department Sues Tech Firm Over Allegations of Rent Collusion Among Landlords

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice, along with eight state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit against RealPage, a prominent provider of property management software. This legal move challenges the company’s practices which, according to the DOJ, enabled landlords across the nation to coordinate on setting higher rents, affecting millions of tenants in the process. RealPage, based in Richardson, Texas, offers software that manages approximately 16 million rental units, primarily in the Sun Belt and Southern United States. The federal lawsuit, which was lodged in a North Carolina federal court, claims that RealPage holds a … Read more