Burleith has become infamous for its negligent landlords. Students regularly have to fight to get their security deposits back at the end of the summer or academic year, even if the only problems are routine maintenance issues, and maintenance issues frequently go unaddressed throughout the year.
Often, negligent landlords own multiple houses in Burleith, and their business practices go unchallenged year after year. Students should assert their tenant rights by taking advantage of resources provided by District agencies.
For example, the Department of Consumer Regulatory Affairs provides free property inspections ensuring the residence’s compliance with District law. If students get their houses inspected before signing onto a lease, tenants could more easily hold landlords accountable for making repairs.
Unfortunately, students routinely encounter difficulties getting landlords to make even routine repairs, especially if they’re subletting for the summer. This was the case with Emma Forster‘s (COL ‘13) summer sublet. She said that when the shower started leaking, the landlord refused to take responsibility. At the end of the summer, after fighting to get her security deposit back, Forster found out this was one of the properties endorsed by the Office of Off-Campus Student Life.
While the Office of OCSL provides a list of resources on its website, as well as a list of reputable properties, students should look beyond Georgetown for support.
Unfortunately, many of these resources are unknown to students jumping into the housing market for the first time. OCSL should actively disseminate information about District resources to all rising juniors, before they start to look for off-campus housing over the summer.
The Office of the Tenant Advocate provides advice to tenants looking to hold their landlords accountable to housing code and financial issues. The OCSL should invite a representative from this District group to speak at Off-Campus Student Orientation.
Students often feel that as temporary residents, they are not in the position to argue against established landlords. After all, most are only renting for nine months at the most. However, students must establish a status quo of asserting their legal rights so that in the future, landlords feel less comfortable taking advantage of short-term residents. Changing the dialogue might take a few years, but future Hoyas will enjoy the improved accountability.
