(The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council is considering a ban on “algorithmic rent price fixing,” with a $5,000 fine per violation after Seattle and other major cities recently adopted similar measures.
The council has passed a few “tenant protection” measures in recent years, with Councilmember Zack Zappone proposing the latest on Monday. Seattle banned landlords from using algorithmic rent-setting tools last June, but San Diego, San Francisco, Berkeley, Philadelphia and others have done so as well.
Spokane created a rental registry last fall, implemented anti-retaliation protections, codified the right to air conditioning in June 2024 and increased the notice period required for raising rent in April 2024…