Addressing housing discrimination, Washington DC's Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has mandated reform measures and leveled a $100,000 fine against Apartment Income REIT LLC (AIR), a property management firm found to be engaging in illegal discriminatory rental practices. According to the official press release, AIR implemented policies that barred renting to individuals under the age of 24 or those with felony convictions, actions that violate the District's anti-discrimination laws.
The investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), initially sparked by a tip from a community member, revealed that both the Upton Place Apartments and Vaughn Place Apartments in Ward 3, and the Latrobe Apartment Homes in Ward 2, were implicated in these prejudiced rental practices, The AG's office affirmed, "Landlords have a right and responsibility to provide their tenants with safe, healthy living spaces—but DC law explicitly prohibits discrimination based on age and certain types of criminal history," yet this situation makes it clear there is still work to do in dismantling systemic barriers to fair housing.
The settlement with AIR mandates a raft of changes including cessation of the illegal practices, training for all DC staff on tenant screening, and compliance monitoring by the OAG for a two-year span; all these measures seek to align the company with the District's Human Rights Act, which broadly prohibits discrimination on several bases, notably age and criminal history. Furthermore, the company is tasked with preserving rental application records and reporting to OAG any allegations of human rights violations in relation to the Fair Criminal Records Screening for Housing Act.
As the OAG’s press release states, these efforts highlight the importance of vigilance against housing discrimination in the District where residents are encouraged to report any suspected infringements of their rights and the OAG working in tandem with the District's Office of Human Rights, reinforces a shared commitment to not only address but also to preempt such discriminatory actions within the housing market.
The civil penalties component of the action – $100,000 – will be paid by AIR, marking a financial reprimand for their discriminatory policies and serving as a deterrent to other landlords who might entertain similar unlawful conduct. For victims of or witnesses to housing discrimination within the District, the OAG provides several reporting avenues, including phone, email, and traditional mail, all detailed within the official release.
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