S. 3207: End Rent Fixing Act of 2025

The **End Rent Fixing Act of 2025** is legislation aimed at preventing the manipulation of rental prices in the United States. Below are the key components of the bill:

Definitions

The bill provides specific definitions for various terms used throughout the document, including:

• Commission: Refers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Coordinating function: Involves collecting and analyzing rental price data and making recommendations to rental property owners.
• Rental property owner: Any entity or individual that owns residential properties and leases them.
• Residential dwelling unit: Refers to different types of living spaces, such as houses and apartments.

Unlawful Conduct

The bill identifies two main forms of unlawful conduct:

• Conspiracy: It is illegal for rental property owners or their agents to share any valuable information for coordinating rent pricing, which is considered an unfair competitive practice.
• Coordination: It is also deemed illegal for anyone to perform tasks that align with the coordinating function related to rent pricing.

Enforcement

The enforcement of this Act is primarily managed by the FTC and the Attorney General. They are empowered to:

• Commence civil actions against violators to recover penalties.
• Enforce compliance with the Act alongside existing antitrust laws.
• Allow State attorneys general to enforce provisions of the Act.

Civil Actions

Individuals who experience harm due to violations of this Act may bring civil lawsuits. Courts may award damages, which are often three times the actual damages suffered. Additionally:

• Legal fees can also be recovered by the prevailing party.
• Pre-existing arbitration agreements or waivers can be invalidated if the plaintiff chooses.

Standards of Pleading

The bill states that in lawsuits involving violations, plaintiffs do not need to prove that other individuals acted independently to seek relief.

Relationship to Other Laws

This Act is designed to work alongside existing antitrust laws and does not supersede state laws unless those laws conflict with its provisions.

Severability

If any part of this bill is found to be unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions will remain valid and enforceable.

Relevant Companies

• AMZN - Amazon: The company may be impacted as it has initiatives around housing and rental services.
• ZG - Zillow: As a major real estate platform, Zillow could see changes in how it operates with regard to rental data and recommendations.