The Van Ness South Tenants Association today sent a letter to Equity Residential, warning the company that it should not allow subcontractors to enter residents’ apartments unannounced and unaccompanied.
Many apartments at 3003 Van Ness are in need of repair in order to meet the DC housing code. Recent building-wide proactive inspections by the DC Department of Buildings have found that many apartments lack Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) electric outlets in kitchens and bathrooms, that are designed to prevent electrocution. Many apartments require other repairs.
The tenant association strongly supports any responsible effort by Equity Residential to make needed repairs. However, there must be protocols in place to protect residents’ privacy and security. Specifically, there must be strict rules about getting permission to enter residents’ apartments, about coordinating with residents’ about the timing of repairs, and about escorting third-party subcontractors when they enter apartments.
“The workers, who apparently were not employees of Equity but who were subcontractors hired by Equity, have been entering apartments without permission of residents and without being accompanied by Equity Residential employees. This is a breach of privacy and security.”