Renters who lived in specific apartment communities anytime from 2018 through 2025 may qualify to file a claim under a proposed nationwide settlement tied to allegations that apartment owners and property managers took part in a rent-inflation scheme, according to WKMG news partner KPRC.
The proposed settlements add up to $359.9 million, according to the court-authorized settlement website for In re RealPage, Inc., Rental Software Antitrust Litigation (No. II). The case remains pending in federal court in Tennessee.
The defendants that agreed to settle deny any wrongdoing, and the court has not determined that the claims made against them are true. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
For renters trying to find out whether they may be eligible for a payment, the first step is to confirm whether their current or former apartment is connected to the case.
1. Search the address of your current or former apartment
The official settlement website provides a Property List tool that allows renters to look up addresses associated with the litigation.
In general, the settlement covers certain multifamily properties that were licensed to use RealPage revenue-management products during the relevant time period.
The official website notes that renters may still submit a claim for review even if their property does not show up in the search results or if the search result is unclear. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
Search the official Property List
Renters who moved during the covered period should check each address where they lived.
2. Determine whether you paid rent during the covered period
The settlement class covers qualifying rent payments made during a period beginning Oct. 18, 2018 and continuing through Nov. 21, 2025, according to the settlement materials.
The litigation involves several RealPage revenue-management products used by apartment operators to help determine rental prices, including YieldStar, Lease Rent Options and AI Revenue Management. DOJ court records also identify those products as tools used by landlords to determine pricing for multifamily apartment units. (Department of Justice)
A renter who believes they qualify can submit information about the property and the time period in which they paid rent for consideration by the settlement administrator.
3. Gather records showing that you lived there and paid rent
Before filing, renters should look for records connecting them to the apartment.
That could include documents such as a lease, rent-payment history, bank records, payment confirmations, renewal paperwork or other records showing residency and rent payments.
The settlement administrator may request additional information when reviewing a claim.
4. File directly through the official settlement website
The deadline to submit a claim is Jan. 29, 2027. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
Claims can be submitted directly through the court-authorized settlement administrator.
The settlement website specifically warns renters that they do not have to hire or pay a third-party company to submit a claim. Filing directly through the settlement administrator is free online. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
Visit the official RealPage settlement website
The settlement administrator also warns that third-party companies may charge fees or take a portion of a renter’s eventual payment.
How much money could a renter receive?
There is currently no guaranteed dollar amount for an individual renter.
The proposed settlements collectively total $359,925,000, but that does not mean every renter receives the same payment. Administrative costs and other court-approved expenses must also be addressed before funds are distributed.
The amount ultimately available to an eligible claimant will depend on the terms of the court-approved distribution process.
No renter should assume they are receiving a specific amount simply because they lived at an apartment that appears on the property list.
Why are apartment companies paying to settle?
The private class-action plaintiffs accused RealPage and apartment owners and managers of violating federal and state antitrust laws by conspiring to fix and inflate the price of multifamily rental housing.
The settling defendants deny those allegations.
The court has not determined who was right or wrong. Instead, the parties reached proposed settlements to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continuing the litigation. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
The underlying class action is In re RealPage, Inc., Rental Software Antitrust Litigation (No. II), Case No. 3:23-md-03071, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The settlement website provides access to the complaint and other court filings. (RealPage Antitrust Litigation)
What does the Justice Department accuse RealPage of doing?
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a separate federal antitrust case against RealPage.
DOJ alleges RealPage’s revenue-management software relied on nonpublic, competitively sensitive information provided by competing landlords when generating rental-price recommendations.
According to the Justice Department, sharing that information through a common pricing system could reduce normal competition among apartment operators.
DOJ has alleged that RealPage’s software included features intended to limit rent decreases and otherwise align pricing among competing landlords. In January 2025, the Justice Department amended its lawsuit to add six large landlords: Greystar, LivCor, Camden Property Trust, Cushman & Wakefield/Pinnacle, Willow Bridge and Cortland.
Federal prosecutors alleged those companies participated in a scheme in which landlords used competitors’ sensitive information through common pricing algorithms when determining rents. DOJ also accused some landlords of directly discussing information such as rents, occupancy levels, concessions and pricing strategies with competitors. The DOJ case is separate from the private renter class-action settlement.
Why this matters in Houston
One of the companies named in the Justice Department’s amended complaint has a direct Houston connection.
Camden Property Trust is headquartered in Houston, according to DOJ. Other apartment companies involved in the broader litigation operate properties across Texas and the Houston region.
That does not mean every property operated by a company named in the litigation automatically qualifies for the settlement.
Renters should search the specific apartment address where they lived using the court-authorized property search.
Important dates
Renters considering their options should keep three dates in mind:
Sept. 1, 2026: Deadline to exclude yourself from or object to the proposed settlements
Oct. 15, 2026: Scheduled fairness hearing
Jan. 29, 2027: Deadline to file a claim
Those dates are listed on the official settlement website.
What renters should do now
If you rented an apartment between 2018 and 2025:
Search every apartment address where you lived on the official settlement Property List.
Gather documents showing when you lived there and that you paid rent.
Read the eligibility information on the court-authorized website.
Submit a claim for review if you believe you qualify.
File directly with the settlement administrator if you want to avoid paying a third-party filing service.
The official court-authorized website is RealPageRentalSettlement.com.
