District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. and related entities, alleging the company charged illegal fees and misled tenants about the true cost of renting apartments in D.C.
The complaint, filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, names Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., Mid-America Apartments, L.P., and Post 1499 Massachusetts, LLC, which own and manage a 269-unit building at 1499 Massachusetts Avenue NW.
“The rent you see advertised should be the rent you pay,” Schwalb said. “MAA has been nickel-and-diming D.C. tenants with illegal hidden fees and concealing the true price of leasing their apartments.”
According to the 17-page complaint, the District alleges the company imposed multiple unlawful charges on tenants, including a $385 “processing fee” collected before lease signing, even though District law permits only an application fee at that stage. The lawsuit also states that tenants were charged a $350 “roommate release fee,” despite a legal cap of $54 for such charges.
The filing states that the company also collected a mandatory $18 monthly “community fee” to cover costs such as maintenance, insurance, and property taxes. District law requires landlords to provide those services as part of rent and bars charging separate fees for them.
The complaint further alleges that tenants were charged a monthly utility administration fee that was not disclosed before lease agreements were signed.
In addition to the fees, the District alleges the company advertised apartments using “starting at” prices that did not include mandatory monthly charges. The lawsuit states that prospective tenants could not rent units at the advertised base prices because required fees increased the total monthly cost.
The complaint includes examples showing that listings on rental websites displayed base rents without detailing required charges, leaving prospective tenants without a full understanding of the actual cost.
The District also alleges the company failed to clearly disclose additional fees tied to specific events, including early lease termination, unit transfers, and penalties for failing to maintain renters’ insurance. Those charges were not prominently listed on fee disclosure pages and, in some cases, were only available in documents less likely to be reviewed by prospective tenants before applying.
The lawsuit argues that these practices violate the Consumer Protection Procedures Act and the District’s rental housing laws, which require transparency and limit what landlords can charge tenants.
District officials are seeking a court order to stop the company from continuing the alleged practices, along with restitution for affected tenants, civil penalties, and recovery of legal costs.
Schwalb said landlords in the District are required to be transparent about what tenants will pay. He said his office will hold accountable those whose practices hide the true cost of housing from District residents.
“D.C. housing is already too expensive,” the attorney general said, “and my office is putting an end to practices that prey on tenants and those looking for clear, reliable information when searching for a place to live.”
