Call/Email the City Council on November 30^th & Urge Them to Hold a Vote and Support the Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act of 2009, Bill 18-104!

On November 30^th at 11:00 am the DC Council Committee on Housing and Workforce Development will hear testimony about a crucial bill, 18-0104 the Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act of 2009 introduced by Mary Cheh. The Act will allow tenants to sue landlords in Landlord-Tenant Court in order to get court orders requiring the landlords to make necessary repairs to fix poor housing conditions.  There is currently NO other way for tenants to do this which creates a horrible distortion in access to justice.  

Currently a landlord can sue a tenant in Landlord-Tenant Court to enforce the lease but tenants can't sue an owner in this court. Therefore, when the landlord fails to make repairs, the tenants' only course of action is to with hold rent and hope that the landlord takes the to court on eviction charges. This is a risky strategy that puts tenants immediately and unnecessarily at risk of eviction.

This bill does have a chance to pass, but only if a broad coalition of tenants and groups show up to support it.  You can be sure the landlords lobby will be out in droves claiming tenants do not need this access to court ordered relief - but we all know that is not true!  Urge your Councilperson to attend the hearing and support the legislation.  To testify sign up with Drew Hubbard in Councilman Barry's office at 202 727-8230 or dhubbard@dccouncil.us

Committee Chair: Marion Barry
Committee Members: Harry Thomas Jr. (Ward 5), Phil Mendelson (At Large), Jim Graham (Ward 1), Michael A.Brown (At Large).

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

I am writing to urge your support for Bill 18-104 (The Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act of 2009) which will give tenants the right to sue in Landlord-Tenant Court to enforce the housing code. Currently, when a landlord refuses to make necessary housing repairs a tenant's best recourse is to withhold rent a hope to be sued for eviction. This is very risky and does not necessarily lead to repairs. 

Tenants should have the same speedy, inexpensive access to the courts to enforce a lease that landlords have!

Please attend the hearing today at 11 AM and listen to tenants explain why you should hold a vote and vote in favor of the Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act. As a voting constituent, I urge you to support DC tenants and vote in favor of the Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act! 

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