Sanford Capital
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
[edit]Patrick 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
[edit]Residents 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
[edit]The 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.