Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today testified in support of the Secure Apartments For Everyone (SAFE) Regulation Amendment Act, legislation the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) introduced to improve safety at District apartment buildings.

“Every District resident deserves to feel safe in their homes, but too often, inadequate building safety protocols and persistent criminal activity in their apartment buildings deprive them of that right,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “The SAFE Act creates new ways for landlords, tenants, and DC agencies – including OAG – to work collaboratively and proactively to address the unique security needs of each property.” 

The SAFE Act:

• Requires self-closing and self-locking exterior doors, as well as exterior lighting, on all rental properties with 5 or more units.
   
• Mandates on-site security assessments by the Department of Buildings for any property where one of the following thresholds has been met:
  • 2 seizures of controlled substances within a three-month period;
  • 2 seizures of firearms within a six-month period; or
  • 2 arrests for crimes of violence or dangerous crimes committed at the property within a six-month period.
     
• Following a security assessment, requires the Department of Buildings to issue a report detailing specific measures that should be taken to address safety concerns.
   
  • This report must be shared with the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Tenant Advocate, the associated Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Ward Councilmember office, and the president of any applicable tenant association.
     
• Expands the scope of the Nuisance Abatement Act to include serious crimes involving guns, enhancing OAG’s ability to enforce the Act in situations where crimes of violence or dangerous crimes involving a firearm are occurring at a property.

Changes to the Nuisance Abatement Act will enable the DC Superior Court to order a security assessment of a potential nuisance property to help determine the most appropriate measures and course of action. They will also clarify financial damages that landlords who maintain nuisance properties may be ordered to pay, including up to $1,000 for each day that a nuisance remains unresolved for the first 30 days and up to $5,000 per day for each subsequent day.

Attorney General Schwalb’s full testimony is available here.

The full legislation is available here.

The hearing can be viewed here. 

Resources for Tenants 
OAG works to ensure that residents across the District have access to safe and affordable housing and holds landlords accountable if they violate the law.

Access OAG’s resources to help renters for guidance on how to report problems with your landlord or your housing conditions.