ABOUT TENANT RIGHTS
Our tenant rights lawyers champion renters subjected to deceptive, abusive, and unlawful landlord practices. Violations take many forms: hidden “junk” fees on monthly bills, false advertising of rent prices, undisclosed pest infestations or hazardous mold, excessive application charges, and refusal to return or pay mandatory interest on security deposits. Leveraging the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act and comparable laws nationwide, our attorneys prosecute tenant class actions, holding property managers, real-estate companies, and corporate landlords accountable while protecting the fair-housing rights of renters everywhere.* We are here for you to help fight corporate landlords and property managers engaged in predatory practices.
Please contact our tenants’ rights attorneys for a free consultation if you believe you have been a victim of any of these schemes.
SETTLEMENTS
Turenne, et al. v. Corvias Campus Living–HU, et al., Case No. 2021 CA 003982 B
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Howard University students, alleging that Howard and its housing contractor Corvias failed to address dangerous mold infestations. The case settled.
Ebiasah, et al. v. Telesis CDE Corporation, et al., Case No. 2021 CA 001284 B
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP represented a tenant of Carver Terrace Apartments, alleging that the property’s owners and managers failed to address a severe and ongoing rodent infestation. The case settled.
CURRENT CASES
Harris v. Kettler Management, Inc., Case No. 2026-CAB-000177
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP represents tenants of Park Kennedy Apartments in a class action lawsuit against the building managed by Kettler Management, Inc. The complaint alleges that Kettler uses a drip pricing scheme in which it advertises monthly rent amounts on rental applications that fail to disclose an additional mandatory “Monthly Administrative Billing Fee” that tenants are required to pay, which is in violation of District of Columbia law. It further claims the tenants are overcharged by Kettler through their water and sewer billing practices, which involve per-gallon rates for water and sewer usage in excess of those set by District regulations, unlawful inflation of tenants’ water and sewer consumption amount, and requiring tenants to pay for water/sewer utilities to Defendant rather than a publicly regulated utility. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to protect tenants’ rights.
Jackson v. UDR, Inc., Case No. 2026-CAB-000121
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP represents tenants of Capitol View on 14th Apartments in a class action lawsuit against the building managed by UDR, Inc. The complaint alleges that tenants and applicants were charged an excessive application fee, in violation of District of Columbia law. It further claims the UDR included an illegal lease term stating that the Lease Responsibility Transfer fee (reletting fee) equals $1,250, which is currently capped to the application fee cap that is presently $53 under the District’s Rental Housing Act, thereby violating the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The lawsuit seeks damages and injunctive relief to protect tenants’ rights.
Propst, et al. v. Brookfield Properties Multifamily, LLC, Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-00636-JMC
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP represent tenants in a class action lawsuit against Brookfield Properties Multifamily, LLC, alleging that the company unlawfully padded rents with hidden and illegal fees. The suit challenges Brookfield’s practice of charging tenants an illegal holding deposit, billing them for landlord-controlled utilities such as trash removal and common-area electricity, and imposing third-party “service fees.” It further alleges Brookfield concealed mandatory utility charges until after tenants applied, a deceptive “drip-pricing” scheme in violation of D.C. consumer protection laws. The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and injunctive relief to stop Brookfield’s unfair billing practices.
Bosley, et al. v. GREP Atlantic, LLC d/b/a Greystar and Greystar Management Services, L.P., Case No. 2023-CAB-007340
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
M&R represents a former tenant in his class action against Greystar, alleging that it advertises only base rent while concealing mandatory utility charges, then overcharges tenants for water and sewer at rates above District law and uses illegal private submetering for gas and electricity. The suit contends these tactics violate the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Head, et al. v. Congressional Square Owner LLC d/b/a Crossing DC Apartments, Case No. 2023-CAB-006574
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP represents tenants of The Crossing DC Apartments in a class action lawsuit against the building’s owner, Congressional Square Owner LLC. The complaint alleges that tenants lost months of access to pools, saunas, and other Wellness Suite amenities following a Legionella outbreak but received no compensation, in violation of their leases and District of Columbia law. It further claims the landlord interfered with the Crossing DC Tenants Association and misrepresented the safety and habitability of the property. The lawsuit seeks damages, statutory penalties, and injunctive relief to protect tenants’ rights and ensure safe housing conditions.
Hettinger, et al. v. Bozzuto Management Company, Civil Action No. 2023-cv-3687
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
M&R represents a former tenant in her putative class action against Bozzuto Management Company, alleging violations of the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act in connection with deceptive utility billing practices at the luxury apartment buildings that it manages. The complaint claims that Bozzuto used a “drip pricing” scheme by advertising only base rents while concealing mandatory utility charges until after tenants paid application fees, charged tenants for water and sewer services above legal caps, and imposed unfair HVAC and electricity fees through submetering. The Court recently granted partial summary judgment for the plaintiff on her allegations that Bozzuto failed to disclose mandatory utility and service fees as part of “rent” at the time of application, as required by D.C. law.
Goodman, et al. v. MEPT Anthology LLC and GREP Atlantic, LLC, Case No. 2022 CA 002724 B
Superior Court for the District of Columbia
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Anthology Apartments and its property manager, Greystar, alleging that the building has long suffered from widespread roach infestations, overflowing trash rooms, and unsafe conditions that management failed to resolve. The complaint contends that Defendants misrepresented the habitability of the apartments, ignored repeated tenant complaints, and violated D.C. housing laws and the Consumer Protection Procedures Act. The suit seeks damages and injunctive relief to protect tenants and ensure the property is brought into compliance with District housing standards. The Court recently granted Plaintiff’s motion for class certification, permitting the case to proceed on behalf of a class current and former tenants.
INVESTIGATIONS
General D.C. Deceptive Trade Practices
D.C. Rental Application Junk Fee Investigation | Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
Unpaid Interest on Security Deposits Investigation | Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
D.C. Tenant with Bed Bug or Roach Issues? We May Be Able to Help. | Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
D.C. Tenant with Rodent Issues? | Migliaccio & Rathod LLP
D.C. Apartment Complexes
EJF Maintenance Request Investigation | Migliaccio & Rathod LLP