Two years after being sued for its derelict housing conditions, landlord Sanford Capital agrees to leave D.C.

Embattled landlord Sanford Capital, sued two years ago by the District for the horrific living conditions at some of its properties, came to an agreement with D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine which requires the company to relinquish all ownership of its residential properties throughout the city. Under the agreement, Sanford must take “all practicable steps” to divest its properties within six months, according to a Washington City Paper report. The Bethesda-based company will also be forced to leave the District for the next seven years. The company has financed itself primarily through housing vouchers that partially fund the rents of many of its tenants, the majority of which are are low-income people of color who have been living in disrepair, unable to move due to a lack of other housing options. Sanford has owned more than 65 buildings across D.C. and raked in millions annually by collecting rents subsidized by local and federal monies. Tenants in some of Sanford’s buildings worked with tenant advocates to raise awareness of their deplorable living conditions and persuade the District government to take legal action against Sanford Capital.