Two of D.C.'s largest landlords will pay a combined $9.3 million to settle allegations they used software to illegally inflate rents across thousands of apartments.

Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Monday, Sept. 14 that JBG Smith will pay $8.1 million and Mid-America Apartments, known as MAA, will pay $1.2 million. The settlements resolve claims by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that both companies conspired with other landlords through RealPage's pricing software to drive up rents.

The money will cover civil penalties, payments to affected renters and legal fees. JBG Smith owns more than 4,500 rental units in D.C., according to WJLA. MAA owns 269.

These are the fourth and fifth settlements in the OAG's lawsuit against RealPage and 14 landlords, filed in November 2023. Total recoveries now top $11.7 million.

Beyond the dollar amounts, both companies must stop using rent-setting software that relies on non-public data from competitors. They also cannot encourage other property owners to use such tools or share confidential pricing information with other landlords. If the OAG suspects either company is not complying, it can appoint an independent monitor at the company's expense.

Schwalb said in a statement that some of D.C.'s largest landlords illegally colluded to push rents higher during a housing affordability crisis. He said the office will keep pursuing the remaining defendants.

How the scheme worked

The OAG alleged that participating landlords fed non-public rental data into RealPage's centralized algorithm, which then generated recommended prices. The software covered more than 50,000 apartments across the District. In large buildings with 50 or more units, roughly 60% of apartments were priced using RealPage's tools, according to the attorney general's office.

The OAG alleged JBG Smith used the software at multiple D.C. properties, while MAA used it at one.

Earlier settlements

The first settlement came in June 2025, when W.C. Smith agreed to pay $1,050,000. W.C. Smith owns more than 9,000 units in the District. On June 12, 2026, Avenue5 Residential and Bell Partners each paid $700,000, totaling $1.4 million.

All five settling companies agreed to stop using anticompetitive pricing software.

What's next

Nine defendants remain in the lawsuit. The case is scheduled for trial in March 2027 in D.C. Superior Court, according to Multifamily Dive.

A separate federal class action against RealPage has a proposed $359.9 million nationwide settlement fund. D.C. renters who paid rent at properties using RealPage software between Oct. 18, 2018, and Nov. 21, 2025, can file claims in that case by Jan. 29, 2027.

Tenants with housing complaints can contact the OAG at [email protected].