[adzm]

The article mentions Atlanta right at the beginning, saying vacancies are rising.

> RealPage's effects can be seen most noticeably in Atlanta, where software-based pricing affects more than 80% of rentals. Since 2016, rents in the city have grown by 80% — and higher vacancy rates have not driven prices down.

[davidw]

Meanwhile, in places building enough apartments, rents are dropping:

https://www.redfin.com/news/redfin-rental-report-april-2024/

[gnicholas]

It's possible that rents would be dropping more if this platform were not used by landlords. That isn't to say it should be illegal or is unethical, just to say that the fact that rents are dropping doesn't mean this platform isn't having an effect everywhere it's used.

[davidw]

I think it's entirely possible that it does have a small effect. A percentage point or two.

And a percentage point or two across thousands of people renting adds up to real money they are helping to skim. I don't see any downside to going after them.

That said, no, one company is not to blame for soaring rental prices across the US. It's mostly supply and demand.

[beaeglebeachedd]

Higher vacancies increase the utility of housing by reducing noise and crowding (quite a valuable quality for some), which counterintuitively may push back some against drops.