Daro Files Hardship Rental Increase Petition

On May 12, Daro notified the tenants of the building that they had filed a hardship rental increase petition (also known as a Hardship Petition). RIGTA intends to exercise our rights to review and, if necessary, contest the petition.

According to a representative from the Office of the Rental Administrator, the petition has not yet been completed. As such, the Office cannot review the petition, nor can it release it to us. RIGTA will remain in constant contact with the Office to ensure that we receive a copy of the petition in a timely fashion.

Also according to that same representative, Daro is requesting a 16% increase in the rent for each unit in the building. For a tenant in a one-bedroom paying $800 a month, that would mean an adjustment of $128, to $928 per month.

RIGTA is in the process of gathering the signatures of residents on a statement allowing us to represent the building as a whole. Technically, this requires the consent of a simple majority of the tenants, though we hope to garner as much support as we can. We hope to complete this process by the end of next week.

We are also in the process of retaining pro-bono legal counsel or, failing that, having our position and strategy reviewed by a volunteer from the DC Bar Association.

RIGTA will distribute more information about the petition and the review process as it becomes available. Meanwhile, please contact us at rigtenants@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Dealing with Building Management

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com

I'm sure this varies from building to building, but in establishing our Tenants' Association at Rhode Island Gardens, we've noticed a good deal of reluctance, to put it mildly, on the part of the building's management to deal with us. In fact, at the first meeting we had with the building manager and the head of operations, we were told in no uncertain terms that the management company had "no obligation to deal with us as an association."

It seems odd to me that we met that sort of resistance, especially as we were proposing a number of services that would, essentially, ease the burden of building management and make the property more attractive to prospective tenants. After all, what sort of building would you rather move into: one with an active tenants' association that would support your rights and provide a welcoming environment, or one with a lethargic community where each resident was left to his own devices?

Furthermore, it's not like we're trying to get their license revoked. In fact, we're reminding them of violations to the law that might have gone unnoticed. That is, until the building inspector shows up... then they'd really be in trouble. So, in a way, we're actually helping them maintain their control of the building.

It seemed to me that the tenants' association was adding an intrinsic value to the building that would cost the management company absolutley nothing, but I guess there's a certain difference of opinion there.

Also, as a matter of practice, it seems like the management is unwilling to respond to requests from the TA's official email address (although they're perfectly happy to answer emails from my personal address, even when it's clear that they're dealing with me as chair of the TA).

In an environment where dialogue would seem to be the best option for all parties, it's really striking (although I suppose not entirely unforeseen) to be met with such stubborn and blind opposition.