At every legislative session since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, the DC Council has passed regulations designed to protect and empower tenants—at the expense of small landlords. In fact, DC has one of the most extreme COVID emergency laws in the country. Not only does it prohibit rent increases, the legislation bans evictions of any kind, and until very recently, there was no way for small operators to apply for rental assistance on behalf of delinquent or unresponsive tenants.
On the inaugural episode of The Multifamily Owners Podcast, host Dean Hunter, President of the Small Multifamily Owners Association (SMOA), describes how the COVID emergency is killing DC landlords. He explains how the DC Council’s ban on all evictions and rent increases has led to unprecedented vacancies and delinquency rates and why the eviction moratorium is likely to decrease the availability of affordable housing in the city.
We also hear from small multifamily owners and property managers regarding their struggles through the COVID crisis and SMOA General Counsel Richard Bianco explores how the emergency legislation emboldens bad actors—who then put the health and safety of other tenants at risk. Listen in to understand how SMOA’s advocacy has led to relief programs for small landlords and learn how you can help us 1) lift the ban on rent increases, 2) grant landlords access to the courts for health and safety violations, and 3) delay the implementation of the new tenant screening and eviction reform measures until the moratorium ends.
Key Takeaways How the DC Council’s COVID measures seek to protect tenants at the expense of small landlords
How the ban on all evictions and rent increases has led to unprecedented vacancies and delinquency rates
The stats re: how many DC rental units are owned by small multifamily operators
Why the eviction moratorium is likely to decrease the availability of affordable housing in DC
How small housing provider Ms. Watson and property manager Sharnetta Malkin are struggling in the COVID emergency
How SMOA’s advocacy led to relief programs for small landlords
Why we must organize and educate elected officials on the realities of being a small operator
How the ban on rent increases harms small providers (especially those of us subject to rent control)
SMOA General Counsel Richard Bianco’s insight on how bad actors have become emboldened through the emergency legislation
Why landlords need access to the courts to evict tenants for health and safety violations
The outrageous changes to the eviction and tenant screening laws proposed by the DC Council
Connect with Dean The DC Small Multifamily & Rental Owners Association
Dean at Urban Commercial Group
Dean on LinkedIn
Resources Become a Member of SMOA
DC COVID Help for Small Multifamily Owners
DC’s COVID-19 Related Legislation
DC Policy Center Stats on Rental Housing
Small Business Administration
DC’s Eviction Amendment Act
Sponsor Fred A. Smith Management
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