[Mintwood-place] PRESS RELEASE: Final Approval for Graham Illegal Evictions Bill

[Heymann, Alan (COUNCIL)]

COUNCILMEMBER JIM GRAHAM
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WARD ONE

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE		Contact:	Alan Heymann
April 4, 2006
(202) 724-8031
		 				
FINAL APPROVAL FOR GRAHAM 
ILLEGAL EVICTIONS BILL


Washington, DC - The DC Council voted unanimously today to permanently stop
the unlawful eviction of unsuspecting tenants - whose apartments would then
become luxury condominiums.

The bill, authored by Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One), is similar to
emergency legislation the Council passed in December. 

"We had an investigation. Subpoenas. Hours of hearings," said Councilmember
Graham. "Now we've passed a permanent bill to make sure these evictions
never happen again."
 
District housing law allows landlords to repair violations of the housing
code and to fix serious health hazards such as mold and asbestos - and to
receive permission from the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
(DCRA) to vacate a building if the tenants would not be safe during the
repair. In these scenarios, the tenants have an absolute right to return to
their apartments at the same rent as before, as well as the right to moving
expenses paid by the landlord.

During several roundtables chaired by Councilmember Graham, the Committee on
Consumer and Regulatory Affairs heard testimony from tenants who were asked
to sign these rights away for a pittance, while the Rent Administrator at
DCRA approved the proposals to vacate several DC buildings based on asbestos
remediation plans for a building in Leesburg, Va.

Bill Proposed Resolution 16-556 is available for viewing online:
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/lims/getleg1.asp?legno=b16-0556



 

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Alan Heymann
Director, Constituent Services
Councilmember Jim Graham
aheymann at dccouncil.us
www.grahamwone.com