WASHINGTON — The owner and manager of Mayfair Mansions, a Northeast D.C. affordable housing complex, will pay more than $1 million in a settlement.
Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced Friday the settlement agreement made between his office and the owner of a 410-unit complex in Ward 7. The Office of the Attorney General started the investigation after receiving resident complaints, which included constructive negotiations with Mayfair. It resulted in a settlement that includes payments to impacted tenants and historic investments to improve conditions and ensure the properties remain safe and habitable in the future.
“The tenants of Mayfair Mansions, like all District residents, deserve a safe and secure place to call home,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “After residents brought concerns about their housing conditions to OAG’s attention, our office engaged directly and constructively with Mayfair’s owners, ensuring that monetary compensation will be provided to its tenants, and that robust investments in building infrastructure, repairs, and security are promptly made.”
The apartment complex is owned by Mayfair Mansions LP, a subsidiary of Enterprise Community Development. Enterprise purchased the property in 2019, and according to the release, it had "already been in a persistent state of disrepair for years." The company's plans to rehabilitate the location was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2021, WUSA9 reported on Mayfair Mansions' landlord and how they were under federal investigation after efforts to control a growing rat problem may have poisoned local waterways. When we obtained over a dozen grievance forms from tenants to managers of the property. The complaints ranged from mold to maintenance issues, but it was the chicken laced with rat poison that got the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the release from the attorney general, Enterprise is working to have a long-term plan to improve conditions and security for its residents.
Here are the terms of the settlement agreement:
- Pay $1,040,000, a portion of which will be used by D.C. to refund tenants who were forced to live in poor conditions at the property.
- Upgrade security. Mayfair will maintain armed special police officers at the property for a minimum of 262 hours per week, maintain lighting and security cameras at the property, repair and replace broken exterior doors, and tow abandoned vehicles.
- Improve housing conditions. Mayfair will address all outstanding housing code violations within 30 days of the agreement and hire a pest control vendor to service the property at least once a month.
- Provide quarterly reports. Mayfair will provide OAG with quarterly reports detailing updates on housing code violations and lists of resident complaints, to ensure ongoing compliance with D.C. law.
Watch Next: DC landlord under federal investigation for placing chicken laced with rat poison by sewers
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.