Landlords can't use shared software to fix rents in New York

Rent-setting software can collect pricing and lease data from competing landlords, analyze it, and recommend what each should charge. New York’s law treats knowingly or recklessly helping landlords agree not to compete as an antitrust violation, including by operating or licensing software that performs all three functions. It also bars landlords from knowingly or recklessly setting rents or lease terms from those recommendations. Tools used to establish legal rent or income limits under rent regulation or government affordable housing programs are exempt.

Renters do not need to apply. The law uses the existing Donnelly Act remedies: the attorney general can bring civil or criminal cases, and private plaintiffs can bring civil suits.

Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal sponsored the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins made it a priority. The Senate passed it 40–22. The Assembly passed it 95–51 the next day, with three Republicans voting yes and seven Democrats voting no. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed it on Oct. 16, 2025.

RealPage sued. On Sept. 29, 2026, a federal judge preliminarily barred the attorney general from enforcing the landlord provision while the case proceeds, finding RealPage likely to succeed on its First Amendment claim. The order did not block private suits under that provision or the separate facilitator rule. The state has asked the court to reconsider.