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Westminster Management LLC will pay $3,250,000 in restitution to thousands of current and former residents of the communities that contained over 9,000 rental units across Baltimore City, states Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh.
Westminster is required to return funds from excessive application fees, improper agent fees, writ fees, court costs associated with summary ejectment actions, small credit balances, and security deposit interest that was not paid to vacating tenants.
Frosh states that along with the fees, tenants were exposed to several maintenance issues within the communities that were left dismissed.
“Tenants in Westminster properties suffered with mold, leaks, floods and infestations of rodents, roaches and bedbugs. Management hid these conditions only to reveal them to their tenants after they were locked into long-term leases,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Westminster knew the condition of its properties, and it charged tenants illegal fees to live in those miserable conditions. Westminster’s conduct was unconscionable.”
Current and past tenants can make claims to a special master, who can return rent to consumers if they experienced any of the following during their tenancy: leaks or floods; rodent, roach, or bedbug infestations; or a lack of electricity, water, hot water, heat, or air conditioning.
The properties covered by this settlement are:
- Carriage Hill Apartments
- Carroll Park Apartments
- Charlesmont Apartment Homes
- The Commons at White Marsh Apartments
- Cove Village Apartments
- Dutch Village Apartments
- Essex Park Apartments and Townhomes
- Fontana Village Apartments
- Gwynn Oaks Landing Apartments
- Hamilton Manor Apartments
- Harbor Point Estates
- Highland Village Townhomes
- Morningside Park Townhomes
- Pleasantview Apartments
- Princeton Estates Apartment Homes
- Riverview Townhomes
- Whispering Woods Apartments.
Consumers who are entitled to relief under the settlement will receive claims forms on which they can make maintenance-related claims or will receive payments if they were charged improper fees or are owed other amounts under the settlement.
For more information about landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities, consumers can visit here.
Complaints about housing-related issues may be filed on our website, www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov, or consumers may call the Consumer Protection hotline at (410) 528-8662 or toll free at (888) 743-0023.
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