Reply to Bowser proposes to add over 1,500 new affordable housing units to "Rock Creek West"

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[quote=Anonymous]I just recently had my first exposure to the need for affordable housing. I have a neighbor who moved and need help with listing her house on zillow and showing and vetting the applicants. What an eye opener that experience has been. I have relatives who have been successful landlords in DC with no problems, they have two rules, 700 or greater for credit score and no history of landlord tenant issues in DC/MD/VA. First of all in DC if you are a private renter you are not allowed to say "I don't take vouchers", but the process to even take a voucher can take 2 months. Vouchers can only be in units with lease of 1yr or more. So 6-9month lease isn't an option.

There were people who applied to the unit sight unseen, which throw up all sorts of alarms. Then you go look them up on DC Courts website and literally 3 pages of landlord tenant issues for nonpayment of rent. Couple of people had credit scores of well over 700, almost got fooled until you look them up, 4 pages of landlord/tenant disputes for nonpayment of rent. One group showed up for the 3bdr 2 bath place with the intent of 9 people living there and horrible credit. We tried out best in the listing to filter out the calls that were going to work out but the voucher folks constantly coming at you with bad credit and court issues for nonpayment of rent. I get that everyone deserves and needs a place to live but with the laws in DC being so much in favor of the tenants how is Bowser ever going to get 1500 affordable rental units west of the park. We have a woman with 3 children on a voucher down the street, only drama on the street. Boyfriend beats her up, arrested and convicted for gun possession and assault and battery. But guess whose car is parked in front of her house right now while he is awaiting sentencing? You guessed it the convicted batterer and illegal gun possession boyfriend.

Ultimately my neighbor was able to get good renters for her place with good credit scores and not be forced into a voucher situation.

If DC doesn't dramatically shift the laws so that landlords can get rid of bad tenants there will never be enough affordable housing in this city because no one will be willing to take the risk of getting burned. While looking up folks where the landlord was suing for rent, it took no less than 45 days to have them even ordered to leave or pay rent, by then the landlord is out 2 months rent, assuming they filed right away.

There will be no solution to affordable housing in DC until the laws shift out of being in favor of the tenants.[/quote]

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