Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in District of Columbia

Water frequently turned off, no compensation offered when requested

I have been a resident in an apartment complex in DC for approximately a year and a half. Occasionally as much as once a week, but more usually as much as once a month, the water is disconnected from all apartments for ''repairs''. Water is an included utility in rent each month. The apartment complex often notifies residents only the day before water is turned off, and rarely tells them a starting and ending time, instead saying ''a period of time'' or something similar.

A notice was put up recently saying that water would be turned off on three consecutive Mondays (again not citing a start time), allegedly in order to install a system which would prevent in the future such frequent water disconnections.

I have been incredibly inconvenienced by these water disconnections, culminating in having to use a water pitcher from my fridge recently to wash soap out of my eyes when the shower stopped. My requests for compensation from the management company have been refused. I read DCMR Title 14, Chapter 6, Section 606.2, as applicable to this situation. Do I have a legal option in this case?

Thanks in advance.


Asked on 9/27/04, 10:54 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Water frequently turned off, no compensation offered when requested

Even without reviewing the D.C.statute(s) which you've referenced, I would very much doubt that you have any "legal options" for the situation which you've described.(These periodic shutoffs of water seem to be increasingly common in buildings in this metro area. The water in the building in which I reside has been shut off for at least four to five times since the first of the year for varying short periods.)

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Answered on 9/27/04, 3:48 pm


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