One less landlord in NC using controversial rent-setting software after AG settlement
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a win this week in his ongoing fight to keep rent prices fair across North Carolina.
On Tuesday, his office announced a settlement with Cortland Management LLC, one of the largest landlords in the state, to stop using RealPage's controversial rent-setting software.
Cortland, which owns more than 5,000 rental units in North Carolina, for allegedly working together to artificially inflate rents using RealPage's AI-driven pricing tool.
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The lawsuit claims the software allowed landlords to share sensitive, non-public data with each other, leading to higher rents than what the market would normally dictate.
'Today's settlement means one less landlord is using RealPage's unlawful AI software to charge North Carolinians unfair rents,' Jackson said. 'We're going to keep fighting this case to make sure all landlords and property managers play by the rules and people can afford rent.'
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The agreement requires Cortland to:
Completely stop using competitors' private data to set rental prices
Avoid using third-party rent-pricing software or algorithms, unless it's under a court-appointed monitor
Do not share or receive sensitive pricing data with other landlords or property managers
The settlement also gives the AG's Office oversight powers. Cortland must report on its compliance, and the state can inspect its operations and even go back to court if necessary.
Attorney General Jackson's bipartisan legal battle continues against RealPage and five other major landlords who they say collectively manage over 70,000 rental units across North Carolina.
The lawsuit accuses them of violating antitrust laws by conspiring to raise rent prices through shared data and coordinated strategies, all behind the scenes. The AG argues this kind of behavior hurts renters already struggling with high prices and undermines honest landlords.
Cortland Management LLC manages several properties across the Charlotte area.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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