Thread by @AGKarlRacine

FRIDAY at 2pm: Have questions? I’ve got answers!

Join me for a Twitter Q&A to learn about #COVID19DC protections for DC consumers, workers, tenants, and vulnerable residents during this public health emergency.

Tap below to ask your question now or tweet using #AskAGRacine.

Great Q! You can report senior abuse, neglect or exploitation to:

OAG: 202-727-3807; [e-mail]
APS: 202-541-3950
MPD: 202-737-4404

OAG will investigate complaints & bring civil and criminal cases against anyone who harms our vulnerable residents during #COVID19DC.

Thanks for the question, Nate. Some tenants need a home health aide or guest for assistance due to their disability. Landlords cannot discriminate on the basis of an actual or perceived disability. Abide by the lease agreement & seek counsel advice if given notice to vacate.

Leah, landlords can't penalize tenants for late rent payments for months during the declared emergency. Landlords are not legally allowed to charge late fees during this period and cannot collect those fees after the emergency ends. Seek legal help if you get a court notice.

Q: #AskAGRacine Some important questions tenants may have during this time: When can landlords raise my rent? When can they file for an eviction action if someone is behind on their rent? Thanks! And for those looking to do so…
- @pripslaw

A: Thanks for the question, Prianka!

Re: Eviction – tenants of federally subsidized buildings (HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac): The earliest a landlord could file a court case is 8/27/20, but the landlord must give the tenant 30-days’ notice. (Landlords cannot begin issuing 30-day notices until 7/27/20).

If your landlord threatens to evict you, or actually changes the locks, please contact OAG at [phone] or [e-mail].

Q: #AskAGRacine Where do we report scams or solicitations we think might be scams?
- @LaurenDevoll

A: Great question, Lauren! Report scams to OAG:

☎️[phone]
📧[e-mail]
💻oag.dc.gov/consumercompla…

If housing providers are not taking precautions like wearing masks or social distancing, please contact OAG at [phone] or [e-mail].

DC employers are required to provide employees with paid sick leave, and employees can use that leave if they are sick, or they have a sick family member they must care for.

If your employer is violating you rights, call 202-442-9828—and we'll investigate.

OAG is enforcing the temporary expansion of DC’s paid sick leave law, which requires employers who have 50-499 employees to provide “declaration of emergency” leave for DC workers affected by #COVID19DC.

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to scams & $$$ exploitation if they are isolated or rely on help w/ daily tasks, like money mgmt.

How to avoid scams:

Pepco: bit.ly/2wZuHjq
#Coronavirus relief payment: bit.ly/2UVbxEs
Charity fraud: bit.ly/2S7GK5H

Follow these tips to protect yourself and loved ones from scams during #COVID19DC (English & Spanish): bit.ly/2xte3IY

Workers can find out more about DC’s emergency paid sick leave law at oag.dc.gov/coronavirus.

If an employer refuses to provide it, report it to us by:

☎️[phone]
📧[e-mail]
💻oag.dc.gov/consumercompla…

Thanks to everyone for submitting questions! If you had questions that I wasn’t able to answer during this Q&A, please contact my office via email at [e-mail]. OAG is here to help! #AskAGRacine