Sanford Capital is a property management company based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company received severe criticism from tenants and regulators before agreeing to exit the property management business in Washington DC.
History
editPatrick B. Strauss[1] and Aubrey Carter Nowell founded Sanford Capital in 2005.[2] At its peak, Sanford owned more than 65 rental properties, all in the DC area.[3] At least 330 of the company's residents received public housing vouchers, meaning Sanford received at least $3.7 million per year in taxpayer money.[3]
Resident complaints
editResidents of Sanford's buildings complained about multiple problems related to shoddy maintenance. Some of the highest-profile complaints related to raw sewage spreading through buildings. According to one media account, "Feces coagulated like cooled lava along the bathroom walls, and debris-laden brown liquid filled the bathtub and spilled out the bathroom door."[4] Other residents complained about rodent infestations, broken heating systems, non-functioning locks, squatters, blocked drains, broken lighting fixtures, damaged floors, leaky faucets, and broken smoke detectors.[2][5] In response to resident feedback, Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a government review of all properties owned by Sanford Capital in 2017.[2]
Legal action
editThe Bowser review resulted in 1,083 violations being discovered by city inspectors, who issued $539,500 in fines to Sanford.[6][7] The nonprofit Equal Rights Center sued Sanford Capital in mid-2017, alleging that Sanford discriminated against veterans and other groups.[6][8]
DC Attorney General Karl Racine filed multiple lawsuits against Sanford Capital.[9][10]
In April 2018, Sanford entered into a consent decree with the District in which the company agreed to stop acting as a landlord in Washington DC within six months.[11][12]
In November 2019, Sanford Capital and its owner settled with the Attorney General, agreeing to pay $1.1 million in rent recovery to 155 residents in three of its apartment complexes.[13]
References
edit- ^ Nirappil, Fenit (May 10, 2018). "D.C. cuts off taxpayer subsidies to landlord Sanford Capital after years of controversy". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
- ^ a b c O'Connell, Jonathan (March 1, 2017). "Bowser orders review of all properties operated by controversial D.C. landlord". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b Giambrone, Andrew (March 30, 2017). "Inside the Double Dealings of Sanford Capital's Evangelical Co-founder and His Wife". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Mills, Alexa (May 10, 2017). "Shit in Tubs at Sanford Properties". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Abigail, Hauslohner (October 14, 2015). "Poorer tenants fear being pushed out by planned Congress Heights complex". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ a b Giambrone, Andrew (May 31, 2017). "Nonprofit Sues Sanford Capital for Housing Discrimination". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Nirappil, Fenit (April 3, 2017). "Sanford Capital faces $539,500 in fines after D.C. inspects some of its buildings". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "Belmont Crossing Complaint". May 30, 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Barras, Jonetta. "Racine Sues Politically Connected Congress Heights Developer". East of the River News. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "Attorney General Racine Continues Actions to Hold Sanford Capital Accountable" (Press release). Washington DC. Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. February 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
- ^ Giambrone, Andrew (April 26, 2018). "Notorious Landlord Sanford Capital Agrees to Exit D.C." Washington City Paper. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ "Consent Judgement and Order". documentcloud.com. Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
- ^ Nirappil, Fenit (2019-11-13). "Notorious landlord to pay D.C. tenants $1.1 million in city's largest-ever rent recovery case". Washington Post. Retrieved 2019-11-26.