News
Great News for Heather Hill Tenants!
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has entered into a Final Order by Consent with Heather Hill Property Company LLC and Heather Hill Operating Company LLC (collectively Heather Hill) for alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act and the Consumer Debt Collection Act in their operation of a large apartment complex in Temple Hills, Maryland.
The Consumer Protection Division’s Final Order requires Heather Hill to provide restitution in the amount of an estimated $11.2 million. This settlement is the largest amount of restitution obtained by the Consumer Protection Division in a landlord/tenant case.
“This settlement provides relief for hundreds of Maryland families who were forced to pay rent while some families lived in unsafe conditions and others risked the same dangers, all because the landlord rented without the required license or inspections,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown.
“My Office will always hold landlords accountable when they put profits over people’s safety, and we will continue to protect Marylanders from housing providers’ irresponsible and unlawful actions that put them and their families at risk.”
Restitution under the Final Order requires Heather Hill to provide:
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- Debt “forgiveness” of amounts charged while it was unlicensed;
- Credits for past rental payments that tenants made while Heather Hill was unlicensed to diminish or eliminate unpaid rent that tenants have incurred since the complex obtained a license;
- Monthly credits, at the time of rent payment, to tenants who continue to pay their rent to Heather Hill; and/or
- Cash payments to former tenants based on payments they made while it was unlicensed.
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To stop the treadmill of evictions and improve housing and financial stability, the Final Order not only requires Heather Hill to cease and desist from future violations of the law, but also requires Heather Hill to:
- Inform all credit reporting agencies that have received reports of unpaid rent during unlicensed periods, that those amounts have been satisfied; and
- Not report alleged unpaid rent to prospective landlords.
Consumers with questions may call the Consumer Protection Division’s hotline at (410) 528-8662.
Organizations that helped organize the tenants:
Prince George’s Housing Coalition
Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County
