ANC2C02 Forum

Has Mayor Fenty made it easier to sue slumlords like the District?

In an announcement earlier this week, Mayor Fenty suggested there would be sweeping changes "in how the District will track and monitor the condition of residential properties and pledged to work closely with the DC Council to modernize the city’s property code enforcement process to eliminate burdensome legal hurdles."

“Landlords have no excuse for letting their buildings fall apart. Now we will have no more excuses for delaying enforcement. We need our laws to be strong enough to compel action.”
— Mayor Fenty

Could this possibly mean that the neighbors of properties like 1504 6th Street NW, which has been brought to the attention of Lindia Argo at DCRA directly by Councilmember Evans himself as well as the Mayor's office, might be able to sue the District for the continued neglect and delays in fixing up its own properties — the continued degradation of which is affecting the structural integrity of their own homes?

In the wake of recent heavy rains which no doubt flooded the inside of 1502 6th Street which has no roof, some residents are concerned that the flooding at this property might be impacting the structural integrity of the adjacent homes at their foundations.

Caved roof at 1504 6th St NW at District-owned vacant property. May 10, 2008.