DOJ Reaches Settlement With Blackstone’s LivCor Over Alleged Rent Price-Fixing

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with LivCor, a property management company owned by Blackstone, resolving claims that the firm participated in an unlawful scheme to raise apartment rents through the sharing of sensitive pricing data. The agreement marks another significant development in the federal government’s broader crackdown on alleged rent price-fixing and algorithmic collusion in the U.S. housing market.

The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed by the DOJ in early January against six major landlords, including LivCor. The lawsuit alleged that the companies used revenue management software developed by RealPage to share non-public rental pricing information, enabling competing landlords to coordinate rent increases. According to the DOJ, this practice reduced competition and contributed to higher housing costs for renters across the country.

Under the terms of the settlement, LivCor agreed not to set rental prices based on confidential information obtained from competing landlords. The company also committed to refraining from using third-party software that relies on non-public competitor data to generate pricing recommendations. LivCor settled the case without admitting wrongdoing, emphasizing that it remains focused on serving its residents.

DOJ Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater said the agreement reinforces the government’s commitment to enforcing antitrust laws in the housing sector. She noted that landlords nationwide should understand that competition laws prohibit sharing competitively sensitive information, whether through direct coordination or algorithm-based tools. Slater added that the settlement aligns with President Donald Trump’s efforts to address high living costs, an issue that has weighed on public approval of his economic leadership.

The case against LivCor is part of a broader DOJ initiative targeting RealPage and its clients. Last year, the Justice Department sued RealPage in its first major case addressing alleged algorithmic collusion. That case was settled last month, with RealPage agreeing to a three-year monitorship and restrictions on how it collects and uses rental data.

Other large property management firms, including Cortland Management and Greystar Management Services, have also reached settlements with the DOJ. Together, these actions signal increased regulatory scrutiny of pricing algorithms and data-sharing practices in the rental housing industry, as federal authorities seek to protect renters and promote fair competition.