Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and Councilmember Robert White have introduced the STRONG Homes Amendment Act of 2025 to strengthen protections for tenants living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions. The bill revises the Tenant Receivership Act, giving the Office of the Attorney General greater authority to act against negligent landlords and address urgent housing issues.
"My office receives dozens of complaints every year about Washingtonians being forced to live in unsafe, unhealthy, illegal conditions," Schwalb said, noting the current system’s shortcomings. The amendment aims to close these gaps, allowing authorities to respond more quickly and effectively to cases where tenants’ safety is at immediate risk, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
Councilmember Robert White said, "Too many families in our city are still boiling water on stoves for heat, sleeping under tarps because the roof leaks every time it rains, or putting their kids to bed in rooms filled with mold." The STRONG Homes Amendment Act of 2025 allows the D.C. Attorney General’s Office to use funds for emergency repairs, cover temporary relocations, and pay receivers’ fees for unsafe properties. The act lets courts authorize property sales, requires new owners to follow housing codes and reconstruction plans, prevents rent increases to cover repair costs, and keeps receiverships after sales. It also allows the dissolution of LLCs and LPs that own multiple rental properties to ensure compliance with housing laws, as mentioned by the Office of the Attorney General.
