D.C.’s Worst Landlord Is Its Housing Authority The District of Columbia’s housing authority, known as the D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA), has emerged as the city’s most problematic landlord, owing over $2.2 million in fines for more than 2,500 unresolved housing violations across its properties. These violations, some dating back to 2019, highlight systemic issues within the agency, which oversees more than 8,500 public housing units. Unlike private landlords, who are subject to strict oversight by the Department of Buildings (DOB), the DCHA is legally allowed to police itself, limiting DOB’s ability to enforce compliance beyond issuing fines. The DCHA’s troubles are compounded by a history of leadership changes, a cyberattack, and a scathing audit in 2026. According to a public DOB dashboard, the agency’s violations include issues such as unsafe living conditions, structural deficiencies, and unaddressed maintenance concerns. Keith Parsons, director of strategic enforcement at DOB, explained that while the department inspects properties and issues notices of infraction, there is no legal mechanism to compel the DCHA to fix problems promptly. “There is really no ‘stick,’ by law,” Parsons told NOTUS. The DCHA’s self-regulation has led to significant delays in addressing violations. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) found the agency out of compliance with its inspection requirements, noting that emergency work orders often went uncompleted due to safety concerns. A 2020 lawsuit by the D.C. attorney general further underscored the risks faced by tenants, as the agency was accused of endangering thousands of residents across 10 properties.#hud #d_c_housing_authority #department_of_buildings #legal_aid_dc #office_of_administrative_hearings
