Dear PoPville

“she is going to have the closets and bathrooms renovated and my rent will go up. Is this legal to do to a tenant during a lease?”

By Prince Of Petworth

lease
Photo by PoPville flickr user weheaton

“Dear PoPville,

I live in a condo, as the Craigslist-found roommate of the condo owner. I have a lease with terms for paying X amount through June 2017. The condo owner informed me a couple weeks ago that she is going to have the closets and bathrooms renovated (which includes the closet and bathroom that I use exclusively), and that my rent will go up when these capital improvements are completed.

She pointed to a section of the lease that says “The Landlord may increase the Rent for the Property upon providing to the Tenant such notice as required by the Act [DC law].”

She will not give me a break on rent for the time in which I am not able to use the bathroom I am paying for, and this rent increase is taking place during the lease term, when I was obviously not expecting it. It’s a condo, so exempt from rent control.

Is this legal to do to a tenant during a lease? I am having trouble parsing the DC code on exempt housing. Next stop DC Landlord-Tenant Resource Center?”

“We just want to know in case they come back at us with a “no”, do we have any sort of tenant rights here for rent abatement?”

By Prince Of Petworth

shower
Photo by PoPville flickr user District Shots

“Dear PoPville,

We moved to DC on October 28, into an apartment that is owned by a couple overseas and managed by a local real estate services company. Since the day we moved in, our shower has been broken. It only runs at 120+ degrees Fahrenheit or freezing cold. We let them know immediately and the issue is finally being fixed tomorrow, when they can shut the entire building’s water off. It will have been three weeks without us being able to shower in our apartment. We asked for a deduction in our rent ($25 for every day we haven’t been able to shower) and the real estate company said they will have to check with the owner.

We just want to know in case they come back at us with a “no”, do we have any sort of tenant rights here for rent abatement?”

“I want people to know this is happening in DC”

By Prince Of Petworth

together
Photo by PoPville flickr user Chris Williams

“Dear PoPville,

Yesterday I was verbally assaulted and threatened in a way I had been fearing ever since the election campaign dove into racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant rhetoric. I have never felt more vulnerable as a woman, a Latino, and an immigrant. I never thought I would be in this situation, but it did happen to a friend and me today, so I thought I would share because first of all, in case there were any doubts, I want people to know this is happening in DC, and also because I wished I had had the opportunity to thank the very brave young man who put himself in danger, stood up to this bully, and allowed us to escape from a very dangerous situation.

It was around 4:30pm and my best friend and I were on our way to the movies. We were on bikeshare rides, nearing 14th and R NW, talking in Spanish as we slowed down for the red light. All of a sudden a man started to yell at us, telling us to “shut up”, to “speak American”. At first I thought he was just crazy, then I thought he was drunk, and then unfortunately I realized he was neither. (more…)

“Am I in the wrong here? What are the parking etiquette rules?”

By Prince Of Petworth

parking-etiquette
Photo by PoPville flickr user angela n.

“Dear PoPville,

I need help with parking etiquette in DC. A neighbor reprimanded me and called me a “bad neighbor” for parking in front of the house he lives in on an unzoned public street after I couldn’t find parking on my zoned parking street that is adjacent to the one he lives on. Parking is an issue on my street because some residents have multiple cars and park them on the street. Today I couldn’t find a spot on my street so I parked on the adjacent street that is unzoned. When I stepped out of the car, a man who had pulled up and parked across the street grabbed my attention and explained that he rents the place that I parked in front of and he doesn’t like it when “you people” park in front of our house when you don’t live there. (more…)

“For anyone who has tried this — Are you happy you did?”

By Prince Of Petworth

addition
Photo by PoPville flickr user Rob Cannon

“Dear PoPville,

I wanted to revisit this post from 2010, and hopefully get some updates with respect to:

1) The timeline for adding a fair sized rear addition (from plans, to permitting, to construction);
2) Any recommendations of architects or contractors; and
3) Potential costs

The house is a semi-detached row house zoned R-2 (which means there is a 20 foot rear setback and 40% lot coverage requirement).

For anyone who has tried this — Are you happy you did?”

“What is the DC policy governing parallel parking in front of your own garage in an alley?”

By Prince Of Petworth

no-parking
Photo by PoPville flickr user Wayan Vota

“Dear PoPville,

What is the DC policy governing parallel parking in front of your own garage in an alley? I have a neighbor who claims she is inconvenienced by my (very occasional) parking in front of my garage, despite the fact that she is able to get her car in/out without much difficulty and my car does not block passing traffic (including garbage trucks). Curious what the official or unofficial policy is on this matter.”

Beware Bumper Bully Enthusiasts

By Prince Of Petworth

bumper

“Dear PoPville,

I received a $100 ticket for obstruction of plates for having a bumper bully in use while my car was parked. Could not find anything online regarding the proper use of these in DC. I contested the ticket online (fingers crossed). I am hoping DC is on the side of allowing these things as I can’t fathom parking a new car on the street without them. Curious if other people have gotten nailed for the same thing and if so did they appeal successfully.”

“I am the victim.”

By Prince Of Petworth

uber

“Dear PoPville,

I am the victim.

On the evening of sept 23 my uber driver Richard, picked me up from my work (hair salon on 14th st NW) and dropped me off at my apt complex in SE DC. A week after my ride, he made his first call to my salon asking for me. The receptionist informed him that I did not know who he was. He continued to call 2 other times on separate days. Again the receptionists gave him the same response.When this didn’t work, he came into my salon asking for me by name. The front desk explained that I was out and may not be coming back to the salon( which wasn’t true but for the sake to keep him away they said this) . He did this an additional two more times and again the receptionist explained that I was no longer working there. Luckily the 3 times he has come in, it has been my day off or I have been out. A couple of my coworkers have witnessed seeing him all 3 times in the salon. (more…)

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