FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD – 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 multi-family rental housing community known as Heather Hill Apartments. Heather Hill Apartments is a 459-unit multi-family rental housing community in Temple Hills, Prince George's County, Maryland.
The Consumer Protection Division's Final Order requires Heather Hill to provide restitution in the amount of an estimated $11.2 million. This restitution being provided to Heather Hill tenants 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:
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.
Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy, who joined the Attorney General to announce the settlement said, “I am so grateful to my good friend and colleague Attorney General Anthony Brown for making the announcement of this settlement here in Prince George's County. I also want to commend the work of my Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement – DPIE – for the work it did to assist the Office of the Attorney General on this important case. Developing more housing options is crucial in Prince George's County and across the country, but we want tenants and families to be treated fairly and with respect. Owners and property managers who violate that standard will be held accountable as this important settlement shows."
In May 2025, over 240 failure-to-pay-rent actions were filed against tenants at Heather Hill Apartments. As part of the settlement, Heather Hill has agreed to dismiss all eviction actions against tenants who no longer owe rent because of the restitution under the Final Order. Additionally, Heather Hill has agreed to file with the District Court a request to remove from public inspection all failure to pay rent filings previously filed and dismissed.
The Prince George's County Code requires owners of multi-family unit communities to obtain a rental housing license from the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE). One advantage of a licensing requirement is that it ensures that landlords proactively address any issues and problems at their property without requiring tenants to first complain, contact the county inspection department, or file an escrow action. In its charging document, the Division alleged that, for over two years, Heather Hill operated Heather Hill Apartments without the required rental housing license, during which time there were housing and fire code violations. On May 7, 2024, the property received a temporary license; however, the temporary license was suspended on August 5, 2024. After the Division brought its action, Heather Hill addressed issues at the complex, including making the investments needed to resolve the fire code violations that led to the suspension, and ultimately obtained a rental license on January 13, 2025, with an expiration date of January 13, 2027.
With any landlord, as conditions issues arise, consumers are able to raise their issues with the landlord and/or county inspection departments, such as DPIE, as well as seek court assistance through the rent escrow process. As long as property owners hold a valid rental license, tenants could be subject to eviction proceedings if they fail to pay rent as it becomes due. However, as with any landlord, if conditions issues arise, consumers can raise their issues with the landlord and/or county inspection departments, such as DPIE, as well as seek court assistance.
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:
- Not report alleged unpaid rent to prospective landlords.
These additional requirements are intended to help tenants who were negatively impacted by Heather Hill's alleged conduct during unlicensed periods, including the impact it has on their tenants' ability to obtain housing and credit in the future.
Consumers with questions may call the Consumer Protection Division's hotline at (410) 528-8662.
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