Baltimore, MD – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Thursday announced a sweeping $11.2 million settlement with the owners and operators of Heather Hill Apartments in Temple Hills, marking the largest restitution ever secured by the Consumer Protection Division in a landlord-tenant case.
The settlement resolves allegations that Heather Hill Property Company LLC and Heather Hill Operating Company LLC rented units without the required county license while tenants lived in unsafe conditions, violating the state’s Consumer Protection Act and Consumer Debt Collection Act.
“This settlement provides relief for hundreds of Maryland families who were forced to pay rent while some families lived in unsafe conditions and others risked the same dangers, all because the landlord rented without the required license or inspections,” Brown said.
The agreement requires Heather Hill to provide sweeping relief, including debt forgiveness, credits against unpaid rent, monthly rent credits for current tenants, and cash payments to former residents. The companies must also withdraw all pending eviction actions tied to unpaid rent during unlicensed periods and request removal of past filings from public court records.
Heather Hill Apartments, a 459-unit complex in Prince George’s County, operated for more than two years without the required rental housing license. County officials previously suspended its temporary license in 2024 following fire code violations. The property regained its license in January 2025 after making safety upgrades.
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy, who joined Brown in announcing the settlement, said the case underscores the need for accountability in housing. “We want tenants and families to be treated fairly and with respect. Owners and property managers who violate that standard will be held accountable as this important settlement shows,” she said.
In addition to financial restitution, Heather Hill must notify credit bureaus that unpaid rent during unlicensed periods has been resolved and stop reporting such debts to future landlords, a step aimed at helping impacted tenants secure housing and credit.
Key Points
- Heather Hill Apartments must pay $11.2 million in restitution, the largest landlord-tenant settlement in Maryland history.
- The property operated without a rental license for more than two years while tenants faced unsafe living conditions.
- The settlement includes rent credits, cash payments, debt forgiveness, and removal of eviction filings.
The landmark case sends a clear message to landlords across Maryland: unsafe rentals come at a steep price.