Prohibits the use of an algorithmic device by a landlord for the purpose of determining the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant; declares that such use is an unfair or deceptive trade practice.
Summary
This bill would amend New York’s Real Property Law to prohibit landlords from using an “algorithmic device” to determine the rent charged to residential tenants when that device uses, incorporates, or was trained with nonpublic competitor data. The bill is aimed at rent-setting tools that rely on data about competitors’ actual rents, occupancy rates, lease dates, and similar market information, and it applies both to initial rent setting and to rent changes on renewal. It also defines “rent” broadly to include concessions and fees, and it exempts certain monthly trade association reports and products used to set rents or income limits under affordable housing programs.
The bill declares that a violation of this prohibition is a deceptive act or practice under the General Business Law, making violators subject to the penalties and remedies available under New York’s consumer protection laws. It would take effect 90 days after becoming law and would apply only to rental agreements executed on or after the effective date. In practical terms, the measure would restrict landlords’ use of pricing software and related analytics tools in the residential rental market, while leaving room for publicly aggregated data and government housing-program tools.
Impact
The bill would add a new section 222-a to the Real Property Law and extend consumer-protection enforcement to certain rent-setting practices by landlords. By classifying a violation as a deceptive act or practice under General Business Law section 349 and article 22-A, it creates exposure to civil penalties and remedies beyond ordinary landlord-tenant enforcement. The measure would directly affect landlords, property managers, and vendors of rent-pricing software or analytics products that rely on nonpublic competitor data, while preserving use of some aggregated trade association reports and affordable-housing compliance tools.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the bill appears to be motivated by concern over algorithmic rent-setting, anticompetitive conduct, and higher housing costs for tenants. The legislative declaration reflects a skeptical view of landlords outsourcing pricing decisions to software, and the caption frames the measure as a consumer-protection and anti-collusion response. No committee transcript or vote data is available, so there is no recorded opposition or support in the provided materials beyond the bill’s stated policy rationale.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the use of algorithmic pricing tools in the rental market. Supporters would view the bill as a response to alleged price fixing, collusion, and opaque rent inflation driven by software that ingests competitor data. Potential opponents may argue that the bill is overbroad, could limit legitimate market analysis, and may create uncertainty about what qualifies as an “algorithmic device” or “nonpublic competitor data.” The exemptions for aggregated trade association reports and affordable-housing tools suggest an effort to narrow the prohibition, but the scope of the ban on rent-pricing software remains the central issue.
Same As
Prohibits the use of an algorithmic device by a landlord for the purpose of determining the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant; declares that such use is an unfair or deceptive trade practice.
Prohibits the use of an algorithmic device by a landlord for the purpose of determining the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant; declares that such use is an unfair or deceptive trade practice.
Prohibits the use of an algorithmic device by a landlord for the purpose of determining the amount of rent to charge a residential tenant; declares that such use is an unfair or deceptive trade practice.