Maryland Attorney General Announces Record Settlement with Apartment Complex Operator for Tenant Protections

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced a significant settlement with the owner and operator of Heather Hill Apartments in Temple Hills, Prince George’s County. The agreement, reached by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, mandates an estimated $11.2 million in restitution to tenants. This represents the largest sum of money ever recovered by the division in a landlord-tenant dispute, aiming to provide relief to hundreds of families affected by alleged violations of consumer protection laws.

The settlement addresses alleged violations of the Consumer Protection Act and the Consumer Debt Collection Act stemming from the operation of the 459-unit multi-family rental housing community. Heather Hill Property Company LLC and Heather Hill Operating Company LLC, collectively referred to as Heather Hill, are parties to the Final Order by Consent. This order requires Heather Hill to implement various forms of restitution for tenants, including debt forgiveness for amounts charged during periods when the property lacked necessary licensing. Additionally, tenants may receive credits for past rent payments that could reduce or eliminate outstanding rent owed since the complex obtained a license. For current tenants, monthly credits will be applied to reduce rent obligations, and former tenants may receive cash payments based on amounts paid while the property was unlicensed.

This substantial restitution is intended to address situations where tenants may have lived in unsafe conditions or faced risks due to alleged failures in property management and licensing. Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy expressed gratitude for the settlement, highlighting the importance of fair and respectful treatment of tenants. The county’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) also played a role in assisting the Attorney General’s office with the case.

In conjunction with the settlement, Heather Hill has agreed to dismiss over 240 failure-to-pay-rent actions filed against tenants in May 2025. For tenants whose outstanding rent is resolved by the restitution, these eviction actions will be dismissed. Heather Hill will also formally request the removal of past, dismissed failure-to-pay rent filings from public inspection in the District Court.

Prince George’s County Code mandates that owners of multi-family communities obtain a rental housing license, a process designed to ensure landlords proactively address property issues without tenant intervention. The Consumer Protection Division alleged that Heather Hill operated the apartment complex for over two years without this required license, during which time housing and fire code violations were reportedly present. The property received a temporary license in May 2024, which was subsequently suspended in August 2024. Following legal action by the Division, Heather Hill made investments to resolve the fire code violations that led to the suspension. The complex eventually obtained a rental license in January 2025, valid through January 2027.

Beyond restitution and eviction dismissals, the settlement imposes further obligations on Heather Hill to prevent future harm to tenants. The company is required to inform any credit reporting agencies that received reports of unpaid rent during the unlicensed periods that those amounts have been satisfied. Furthermore, Heather Hill is prohibited from reporting alleged unpaid rent to prospective landlords, a measure aimed at improving the future housing prospects for affected tenants. These provisions are designed to mitigate the negative impact of the alleged past conduct on tenants’ ability to secure credit and housing.

Consumers with questions regarding this settlement or landlord-tenant issues can contact the Consumer Protection Division’s hotline at (410) 528-8662.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General.

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