Antitrust case over renal deal is settled
Zillow, Redfin reach agreement with FTC
By: Maddie McGAy
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... The Federal Trade Commission and five state attorneys general have reach a settlement with Zillow and Redfin, resolving an earlier lawsuit that alleged the companies worked together to stop competition in the Online housing rental marketplace.
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In an announcement on August 24 [2026] - the day a trial in the case was set to begin - the FTC said the settlement allows Zillow to maintain its rental syndication agreement with Redfin. But there are several conditions.
..... Under the original 2025 agreement, Zillow paid Redfin $100 million to shut down its Internet listing services business for up to nine years; exclusively report apartment listings provided by Zillow; and transition its customers to Zillow. These terms applies to Redfin and its sites,
rent.com and ApartmentGuide.com .
..... The settlement, which the FTC said contains no admission of liability or wrongdoing by Zillow allows for a non-exclusive partnership between the two companies through at least 2030.
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It also requires Redfin to resume independent advertising for rental listings within six months of the settlement begin finalized; eliminate any term that requires divulging sensitive business information to Zillow and invest millions of dollars in the business -moves the FTC said still restore competition and drive down costs, benefiting both renter and property management companies
..... Redfin will face fines if it misses deadlines, and it must report regularly to the FTC on its progress.
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Zillow must also provide employee information to allow Redfin to interview its employees. The company must also waive any impediments that might prevent those employees from accepting employment from Redfin, and is prohibited from interfering with Redfin's ability to recruit the employees.
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And for a nine-month period after Redfin relaunches its Internet listing services business, the FTC said, Zillow must allow customers whose contract cannot be canceled within three months to renegotiate their contract without penalty, so they can benefit from the return of an important competitor.
..... The companies will also pay the five states (Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Virginia and Washington) $2 million in costs and fees.
..... This settlement delves better, quicker and more certain results for both renters and property management companies than we would have been able to achieve after prevailing at trial, including firm and enforceable commitments by Redfin to relaunch tis rental advertising business," FTC Bureau of Competition Directrix Daniel Guarnera said in the announcement.
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Zillow also announced the settlement on august 24, [2026] but it said the partnership "will continue unchanged." Zillow also said it will launch standalone multifamily advertising products with Redfin in 2027 and that it will offer added flexibility fur property managers.
..... "This resolution is a win for renters and multifamily housing provides,: said Michael Sherman," general manager and senior vice president of Zillow Rentals.
.... "Our syndication partnership with Redfin has already expanded access to multifamily listings across multiple platforms, brining more leads and leases to property managers and more options to renters."