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H 7764Real Estate

Property - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

This bill bans landlords from using computer software that utilizes private competitor data to calculate or recommend rent prices.

Held for study
Population
Affected
65
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 12, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation prohibits landlords, property managers, and agents from using "algorithmic devices" (software using AI or machine learning) to determine rent prices if those devices rely on nonpublic data from competitors. The bill targets the practice of using shared, private market data to artificially inflate or fix rental rates. It defines specific prohibited data types, such as actual rent prices and lease terms not available to the public. Violations are classified as unfair or deceptive trade practices, allowing the Attorney General or affected tenants to sue. The ban on using these devices begins on January 1, 2027.

For younger readers

Imagine if the people selling lemonade in your neighborhood used a secret computer robot to share secrets and decide the highest price everyone should pay. This bill stops landlords (people who own apartments) from doing something similar. It says they cannot use special computer programs that look at secret information from other landlords to decide how much rent to charge. The goal is to make sure rent prices are fair and not fixed by computers working together. If landlords break this rule, they can get in trouble. This rule starts in the year 2027.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
LandlordsResidential TenantsProperty Management CompaniesReal Estate Software DevelopersProperty Owners
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Combats corporate price-fixing in the housing market, potentially preventing artificial rent inflation caused by collusion software.
  • Empowers tenants by granting them the right to sue landlords who use deceptive algorithmic practices to set rents.
  • Protects the housing market from monopolistic behavior by large corporate landlords who share private data to dominate pricing.
  • The primary prohibition does not take effect until January 1, 2027, leaving tenants vulnerable to algorithmic price-fixing for several more years.
  • The bill only bans algorithms using "nonpublic" data, potentially allowing landlords to use other aggressive AI pricing models that rely on public data to hike rents.
  • Does not address the underlying lack of affordable housing supply or place caps on rent increases, only the method of calculation.
For Conservatives
  • Promotes free-market competition by preventing cartel-like behavior where businesses collude via software to fix prices rather than competing fairly.
  • Includes exemptions for internal record-keeping and accounting, ensuring businesses can still manage their own proprietary data without government interference.
  • Reinforces existing laws against deceptive trade practices rather than creating entirely new bureaucratic agencies to manage housing.
  • Interferes with the rights of property owners to utilize available technology and market data to maximize the return on their investments.
  • Grants the Attorney General broad authority to promulgate new regulations, potentially leading to government overreach in the private rental market.
  • Could create legal liabilities for small landlords or property managers who unknowingly use widespread management software that includes these prohibited features.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 41 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 34-18 of the General Laws entitled "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 34-18-63. Determination of rent amount -- Use of algorithmic device prohibited.

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Algorithmic device” means a device, software, tool, or model that uses one or more computer-based algorithms, including machine learning or artificial intelligence, to perform calculations concerning local or statewide rent amounts, occupancy trends, or other rental market data for the primary purpose of advising, recommending, or determining the amount of rent a landlord may charge, including adjustments to existing rent, that is not widely publicly accessible.

(2) “Nonpublic competitor data” means information that is derived from or about other landlords, renters, occupancy, or pricing that is not widely available to the general public, including but not limited to:

(i) Actual current rent prices for specific properties, units, or landlords collected from nonpublic sources;

(ii) Occupancy rates, lease start/end data, or historical rental performance data obtained from proprietary sources;

(iii) Data licensed or shared among participants in a competitive rental marketplace.

(3) “Rent” means the total consideration, fees, or charges a residential tenant is required to pay for occupancy of a residential premises under any rental agreement, including concessions.

(b) Prohibition. Effective January 1, 2027, no landlord, property owner, property manager, agent, or person acting on their behalf shall:

(1) Employ, use, knowingly rely upon, or cause another to employ, use, or rely upon an algorithmic device that incorporates, uses, or was trained using nonpublic competitor data for the purpose of determining, fixing, or suggesting the amount of rent to be charged to a residential tenant; or

(2) Use an algorithmic device to determine any change in rent for a renewed lease term or rent adjustment for an existing residential tenant.

(c) Exemptions. This section does not apply to:

(1) Rent or income limits established by federal, state, or local housing programs where algorithmic tools are used solely to comply with program guidelines;

(2) Tools that produce only historical reporting of aggregate market data published no more frequently than monthly, provided no individualized rent recommendations are made;

(3) Bona fide internal record-keeping or accounting systems that do not influence or set rent amounts.

(d) Enforcement and remedies.

(1) Violations of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive act or practice under chapter 13.1 of title 6 ("deceptive trade practices").

(2) The Rhode Island attorney general, or any person aggrieved by a violation, may seek relief including equitable relief and civil penalties, as appropriate, under § 6-13.1-5 et seq.

(3) The attorney general may promulgate regulations necessary for enforcement of this section, including definitions, exemptions, recordkeeping requirements, and compliance processes.

(e) Severability. Should any provision of this section be held invalid, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.