Favorable Settlement Reached in Rent-Controlled Housing Dispute

Edgeworth Economics was retained by DC Legal Aid to provide economic analyses of allowable rent increases in a landlord-tenant dispute in Washington, DC. At issue, the landlord's request for a rent increase for the rehabilitation of a multi-unit, rent-controlled building. By law, landlords can only increase the rent on rent-controlled buildings to cover the cost of improvements that benefit the tenants.

Managing Principal Sophie Meadows calculated the allowable rental increase based on different scenarios and created a module that would accurately show the acceptable rate for each scenario. In mediation with the landlord, counsel relied upon on the Edgeworth calculations to demonstrate how the landlord was unlikely to be granted the full increase requested.