West Hamilton News

COLUMBUS—Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 12, urging the Attorney General to file an anti-trust lawsuit against RealPage Incorporated concerning the rental housing market. The corporation provides property management software to rental property operators in Ohio and is currently being sued by several states for allegedly conspiring to illegally raise rent prices.

Senator Blessing issued the following statement: "I applaud efforts to add more supply, but that is only part of the Ohio housing reform. The question is less —'Is RealPage engaging in price-fixing?' and more —'How is RealPage not engaging in price-fixing?' I urge Ohioans to demand that action be taken. The alternative is a future of artificially high rents and damaged economy."

"Legislation is moving forward and local governments are doing their part with programs such as Zone In Columbus and Connected Communities in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, these efforts can and will be undermined leading to a situation where supply increases while rents continue to climb unabated. How could this be? As younger generations would say, RealPage has entered the chat."

"In a competitive market landlords compete against each other for tenants. This creates pressure on rents to decrease. This corporation effectively creates a rental monopoly making rent increase. How does RealPage undermine Ohio's efforts? Absent reform, if the state and local governments work to add more supply RealPage will suggest that units be taken off the market to counteract government-backed attempts to add supply and reduce rents."

Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 has now been referred to the Select Committee on Housing.