Enlarge / A glimpse of San Francisco with Russian Hill in the backdrop. (credit: Getty Images | Terraxplorer)
This week, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors has implemented a groundbreaking ban on specific software believed to facilitate rent price collusion among landlords. Board President Aaron Peskin recently introduced an initiative described as “the first local regulation in the nation prohibiting the use and sale of software that allows for price-fixing among extensive corporate landlords aimed at driving up rents.”
The proposed measure was approved in its initial reading by an overwhelming majority, receiving a 10-0 vote during Tuesday’s session of the board. However, it still awaits a conclusive vote set for September 3, according to reports from Bloomberg.
This legislative action specifically targets well-known software providers RealPage and Yardi. “RealPage has significantly contributed to our housing crisis by enabling corporate property owners to deliberately keep units unoccupied,” Peskin stated. “We are taking proactive measures at the local level to support our working-class residents in affording living arrangements here.”
This development marks a significant step toward addressing concerns over rental affordability within urban environments where housing costs have soared dramatically.
