Housing Justice

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb issued the below statement following a ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia ordering Ali “Sam” Razjooyan and his mother, Houri Razjooyan, to immediately fix the dangerous and illegal conditions at all of the DC apartment buildings they still own and control.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today sued the owners of two apartment complexes in Ward 1 for allowing their buildings to fall into extreme disrepair and for failing to pay back the District for the cost of re-housing dozens of tenants after a gas explosion severely damaged one of the buildings and forced them from their homes.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today sued the owners and managers of two apartment buildings in Ward 4’s Brightwood neighborhood for allowing conditions at the properties to severely deteriorate and for retaliating against tenants who have advocated for the conditions to be fixed.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) secured a significant legal victory clearing the path for new multi-family housing in Ward 3. The ruling will allow implementation of the equitable housing directives of the District’s Comprehensive Plan, including the creation of new housing west of Rock Creek Park.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that Avenue5 Residential, LLC (Avenue5) and Bell Partners, Inc. (Bell Partners) will pay a total of $1.4 million and change their business practices as part of separate settlements that resolve allegations that the companies conspired with other landlords, using pricing software from RealPage, Inc., to inflate rents at over 50,000 apartment units throughout the District.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that DC developer Steven Sushner will pay $400,000 to fund repairs to a Ward 4 condo building that was improperly constructed and sways in the wind due to insufficient structural supports.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today updated the below consumer alert and business advisory to inform landlords and tenants about the need for transparent and complete disclosures regarding utility billing in apartment buildings, especially as consumer costs continue to increase. This alert was initially issued on May 16, 2025.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today updated the below Consumer Alert informing District residents about legal protections against excessive fees throughout the rental process, including caps on application fees and protections against “junk fees” after they sign a lease.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced settlements with the owners and managers of two apartment complexes in Ward 7, Benning Courts and Azeeze Bates Apartments, that will improve living conditions for tenants and ensure ongoing compliance with DC housing code and consumer protection laws at the properties.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today sued real estate lending and investment firm Red Oak Capital Holdings, LLC (Red Oak) for illegal lending practices that discriminate against tenants without housing subsidies.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today filed a first-of-its-kind civil lawsuit under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to dismantle an extensive real estate fraud scheme led by slumlord Ali “Sam” Razjooyan, his brother Eimon “Ray” Razjooyan, and their mother Houri Razjooyan.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today released the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) 2025 Impact Report, highlighting OAG’s efforts to protect the District and its residents over the last year, including securing $906.8 million in savings and benefits for DC – a 477% return on investment.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today, alongside Councilmember Robert White, announced the introduction of the STRONG Homes Amendment Act of 2025, which would strengthen the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) ability to more quickly hold negligent landlords accountable and protect District tenants who are being forced to live in dangerous housing conditions.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a settlement with local landlord Portico Investments LLC (Portico) for allegedly violating DC law requiring landlords to treat all tenants equally, regardless of the source of funds they use to pay their rent.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) won a $41 million judgment against the former owners of Marbury Plaza (now re-named Langston Views), MP PPH LLC and Dr. Anthony Pilavas, for neglecting the safety and habitability of the complex, defying a court order to fix dangerous conditions there, and putting the lives of more than 2,500 tenants at risk by forcing them to live with chronic water leaks, widespread mold, and a lack of air conditioning, heat, and hot water.