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