PM News Recap Feb. 9, 2026 (FTC Rental Fees, RentVine Conf, Rent Declines & more)

Feb 9, 2026

A fast roundup of major shifts in property management news. The FTC plans to solicit comments on rental housing fees and possible regulation. A user conference for a popular property software was announced for May. A Florida manager faces allegations of a $600K theft, prompting licensing and oversight questions. National apartment rents and vacancies are moving toward four-year lows, with higher supply and leasing pressure.

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INSIGHT

FTC Eyes Rental Housing Fees

The FTC is beginning a rulemaking process targeting deceptive or unfair rental housing fees.
This early action signals potential future regulation affecting long-term rental and apartment operators.

ADVICE

Consider Attending RentVine Conference

Consider attending RentVine's user conference May 13–15 in Tampa if you use or evaluate RentVine.
Conferences are useful for product learning and networking with other property managers.

ANECDOTE

Massive Theft By Property Manager

A Florida property manager allegedly stole over $600,000 from a condo association, forging hundreds of checks and redirecting insurance payouts.
The same person faced similar charges in other communities, highlighting weak hiring due diligence and licensing gaps.

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Here’s a quick recap of what happened in property management last week. Links and resources to each story are included below...

00:00:04 — FTC Targets Rental Housing Fees

The FTC announced it intends to regulate rental housing fees and will begin soliciting public comment on what it calls “deceptive or unfair fees.” This is early-stage, but it’s clearly aimed at long-term rental housing and the apartment industry. I break down what we know so far, why this matters, and why this one is worth watching closely.

00:00:59 — Rentvine User Conference Announced

Rentvine just opened registration for its 2026 user conference, happening May 13–15 in Tampa, Florida. These conferences have a strong reputation, and if you’re a Rentvine customer (or considering the platform), this is probably worth a look.

00:01:16 — Property Manager Arrested for $600K Theft

A Florida property manager was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 from a condo association — including forging hundreds of checks and redirecting insurance payouts. Wild story, but it also raises bigger questions about licensing, regulation, and due diligence in our industry.

00:02:24 — Apartment Rents Hit 4-Year Lows

Apartment rents are reportedly at their lowest level in four years, with median rent down ~1.5% year-over-year. Vacancy has climbed to 7.3%, the highest level since Apartment List began tracking the data. I connect this back to supply, leasing pressure, and what you might be feeling on the single-family side.

00:03:48 — Peter & The Wolf Live Returns

Peter and the Wolf Live is back for 2026. Wolfgang Krosky and I are kicking things off with a casual, live conversation about the year ahead, what we’re excited about, and what’s coming next for the show. Register hereThat’s it for this week. Let me know what you think in the comments. If this format is useful, I’ll keep publishing these short, news-style updates as part of the Tuesday edition of the newsletter.📩 My Newsletter: https://www.peterlohmann.com/newsletter🎙️ My Podcast: https://www.peterlohmann.com/podcast__Disclaimer: The content of this news segment is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.