On Sept. 4, 2026, Hagens Berman and Yagman PLLC filed a second amended complaint on behalf of New York City renters, alleging Compass monopolized the rental listing market in Manhattan, and used that power to drive up rents and force broker fees renters otherwise would have avoided.
Did you rent an apartment in Manhattan since December 2024? Did you pay a broker’s fee to find it? You may have overpaid due to an alleged monopoly. Contact us »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Hagens Berman has partnered with Yagman PLLC in filing an amended class-action lawsuit alleging that Compass built an illegal monopoly over Manhattan’s rental listing market by acquiring nearly every major competing brokerage, now controlling over 80% of listings. The lawsuit further accuses Compass of directing its agents to pull listings off StreetEasy, the free platform most New Yorkers use to search for apartments, and reroute them to an exclusive, brokers-only network. This artificially restricted supply and drove rental prices up. It also forced renters to pay a broker’s fee, typically a full month’s rent, just to access inventory that would otherwise have been free to view and lease directly.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M AFFECTED BY THE LAWSUIT AGAINST COMPASS?
You may be affected if you leased a non-rent-stabilized residential housing unit in Manhattan, and your rental agreement began on or after Dec. 1, 2024. If you also paid a broker fee, directly or indirectly, to Compass or one of its affiliates or acquired brokerages, you may also have a claim. Contact our team to find out more »
WHAT DOES THE LAWSUIT AGAINST COMPASS ALLEGE?
According to the lawsuit:
- Compass consolidated the rental market by acquiring nearly all of its competitors, taking control of over 80% of Manhattan’s rental listings.
- Compass restricted public access to listings by delisting rental units from public-facing platforms, such as Zillow and Apartments.com, and offering them as private listings accessible only through Compass’s own brokers. As supply on publicly available platforms vanished, competition increased and rental rates soared across the city.
- Compass manufactured a broker’s fee requirement, funneling renters who once could search and lease directly into paying a broker’s fee to reach the same inventory.
- Compass profited from higher costs, collecting higher rents and broker’s fees as renters competed for a shrinking pool of visible listings at higher prices.
HOW WERE RENTERS ALLEGEDLY HARMED BY COMPASS?
The lawsuit alleges the effect on renters was immediate and measurable:
- Manhattan rental inventory fell by more than 39% year over year, while median rent reached $5,000.
- Active Manhattan inventory fell 11% in the first two weeks of August 2026 alone.
- Rents rose 3% in June 2026 over the prior year, and 6% in July.
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A MANHATTAN RENTER VS. COMPASS?
According to the lawsuit, Compass used its control over Manhattan’s rental market to withhold apartments from public view and force renters to pay broker’s fees they would not otherwise owe, in violation of antitrust laws that exist to keep markets open and prices competitive. The lawsuit seeks damages, trebled where the law allows, injunctive relief and a court order forcing requiring Compass to cease the alleged unlawful conduct.
TOP LAW FIRM IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY
Hagens Berman is one of the nation’s most successful law firms representing consumers and has secured total settlements valued at more than $345 billion for classes and clients against some of the world’s most powerful corporations. The firm recently reached settlements exceeding $1 billion in a class action filed against 29 real estate broker franchises accused of illegally inflating home sale commissions. If you have a claim, it will be handled by attorneys with deep experience in consumer protection law and in the real estate industry. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the class’s legal team.
CASE TIMELINE
On Sept. 4, 2026, Hagens Berman and Yagman PLLC filed a second amended complaint on behalf of New York City renters, alleging Compass monopolized the rental listing market in Manhattan, and used that power to drive up rents and force broker fees renters otherwise would have avoided.
