High-Rise Life: #1 Renter Complaint

by Barbara Cline

Which one of the complaints listed below represented the largest number of client intake cases for the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) in FY 2012?

1) Housing Code Violation: Clean, safe and sanitary homes
2) Housing Code Violation: Heating, lighting and venting
3) Landlord/Tenant Issues: Security deposits, disputed lease provisions and disputed rental payments

The winner is… Number 3!

Landlord/Tenant Issues were the overwhelming “favorite” with 2,050 (74%) of the total 2,767 complaints. They also represented the largest number of complaints in FY 2011 – representing 1,019 (39%) of the 2,615 complaints.

To see all the types of renter complaints OTA received in FY 2012 and their rankings, click here (PDF download). The renter complaints are on page 5 of OTA’s annual report).

This OTA chart is cropped to fit on this web page. The red bar representing the top complaint is actually twice as long.

Another of OTA’s tasks is to help the DC Council craft legislation that addresses these complaints. For example, security deposits:

On July 13th, 2012, the “Tenant Security Deposits Clarification Amendment Act of 2011” became Law 19-140. The law:

Clarifies that the Office of Administrative Hearings may adjudicate complaints for the non-return of tenant security deposits as well as the nonpayment of interest on tenant security deposits.

Clarifies that any housing provider who in bad faith fails to return a security deposit rightfully owed to a tenant, or fails to pay the interest on the security deposit, is liable to the tenant for treble damages.

OTA provides advice, analysis and technical assistance to all DC renters – whether they live in apartments, condominiums or room(s) in houses – with complaints regarding their rental housing. Visit their web site: www.ota.dc.gov.