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 filed a lawsuit against Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., and its subsidiaries Mid-America Apartments, L.P., and Post 1499 Massachusetts, LLC (collectively, “MAA”), the owners and managers of a large apartment building in Ward 2, for charging junk fees and hiding the true cost of rent from prospective tenants.

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.