“Councilmember Anita Bonds Bill Targets Slumlords”

Thanks to a reader for passing on the press release from CM Bonds’ office:

“Rightfully, there has been significant media attention paid to apartment buildings and rental units throughout the District that have landlords who appear to have purposefully neglected their properties, putting the health, security, and well-being of tenants in jeopardy. These unscrupulous owners are commonly known as “Slumlords.”

Today, May 3, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Development introduced legislation that will strengthen the District’s ability to combat this neglect and provide the legal tools to efficiently and quickly go after slumlords.

The “The Rental Housing Accommodation Nuisance Abatement Amendment Act of 2016” allows the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, the DC Attorney General, or any community-based organization to file an action in the DC Superior Court to terminate, instruct, or prevent any rental housing accommodation that has operated in a pattern of neglect for a period of 30 consecutive days that constitutes a health, safety, or security hazard to the tenants. Additionally, the bill authorizes the DC Attorney General to issue subpoenas related to nuisance properties.

“Tenants deserve a quality place to live and we must use every available mechanism to protect housing accommodations to ensure safe and quality living conditions for all DC residents,” stated Councilmember Bonds at the bill’s introduction.

Many problems of these substandard living conditions include unsecured doors, broken heating and air conditioning, infestation, vermin and trash, dim lighting, faulty plumbing, and vacant units that were being used by outsiders for illicit activity.

The legislation was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Evans, Cheh, Todd, May, Orange and Grosso.”