51st News: D.C. building tenants now face water shut-offs when their landlords don’t pay bills

Caption: The water in Alexander Hoskins’ apartment was cut off for a month after the building owner stopped paying the bill. (photo credit: Martin Austermuhle)

Martin Austermuhle of 51st News reports on how a change in policy has left DC renters facing water shutoffs, due to unpaid water bills by neglectful property owners.

In the past, DC Water would have placed a lien on the property, a step that ensures that payment is eventually made. But earlier this year, the utility changed its policy for multi-family buildings: If a bill isn’t paid, the water will be shut off – for everyone who lives there. 

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That the water shut-offs are hitting renters…who have no control over the water bill in their buildings – is what most troubles advocates and legal aid groups that are scrambling to help tenants.

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“They’re essentially being asked to double pay something in a lot of these properties in order to get the water turned back on,” says Kathy Zeisel, the director of special legal projects at the Children’s Law Center.