Your Liquor License Is At Risk If Your Government Approvals Are Not Current

To run a restaurant, bar or any other business in the District for that matter, you need the approval of several government agencies, not just the ABC Board.  Of course, you know that.  You probably remember when you first got your license, you had to show the licensing staff at ABRA that your company is Read more about Your Liquor License Is At Risk If Your Government Approvals Are Not Current[…]

No Building Permits for “Slumlords”

The local media, government officials (usually when seeking re-election), housing advocates and the legal services community throw around the amorphous term “slumlord” to describe a landlord that treats tenants badly by failing or refusing to make needed repairs to a rental unit.  The point at which a landlord crosses over into ‘slumlord’ territory was anybody’s Read more about No Building Permits for “Slumlords”[…]

What Happens When Your “Section 8” Tenant Moves Out

On November 7, 2017, Council members Bonds and Nadeau introduced legislation to limit the rent that a landlord may charge for a unit after termination of a Federal or District subsidy. The Rental Housing Affordability Re-establishment Act of 2017 essentially provides, that upon termination of a tenant subsidy, a landlord may only charge a tenant the Read more about What Happens When Your “Section 8” Tenant Moves Out[…]

Dining with Dogs

It is now legal for restaurant owners to allow patrons to bring pets into the outdoor seating areas provided certain conditions are met. Personally, I had no idea that allowing dogs in outdoor seating areas of restaurants was illegal. I have seen this, for years, all over the city, and frankly, thought nothing of it. Read more about Dining with Dogs[…]

Housing Code Violations as Consumer Fraud

On October 3, 2017, the Council enacted an amendment to the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act to allow the Attorney General to prosecute cases of consumer fraud against landlords who fail to correct housing code violations in rental units. The At-Risk Tenant Protection Clarifying Emergency Amendment Act of 2017, is intended to clarify that the Read more about Housing Code Violations as Consumer Fraud[…]