March 28, 2024

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating alleged collusion and price-fixing practices among major players in the rental housing market, including software company RealPage and its clients. RealPage’s software is used by landlords to estimate maximum rents; there’s a concern this software is used as a shield for competitors to exchange sensitive pricing data. The probe is part of the Biden administration’s attempt to ensure fair competition and affordability for renters.

Nathan Connolly and late wife Shani Mott, a Black couple in Baltimore, Maryland, settled their lawsuit against their mortgage lender, loanDepot, for racial bias in home appraisal. The couple will receive an undisclosed payment, and the company agreed to policy changes, including offering a second appraisal upon bias indication.

A recent study by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Tufts Medical Center analyzed nearly two decades of data and found stricter lead inspection and removal regulations for public housing have been effective in reducing the risk of lead exposure for residents. Continued vigilance and targeted interventions are crucial to mitigate lead hazards and safeguard public health.

Standardized homelessness intake forms, designed to ensure fair treatment, can inadvertently perpetuate racial disparities in housing access. A subcommittee in Maricopa County, Arizona, identified biased questions that disproportionately affected people of color, pushing them toward temporary housing rather than long-term support. Agencies are now reconsidering intake questions and scoring systems to better serve participants and address systemic biases in housing assistance programs.