Lawsuit Filed Against Maryland Property Management Company Over Unsafe Conditions, Debt Collections

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BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced charges on Tuesday against the owner and property managers of Heather Hill by OneWall, a 459-unit apartment complex in Temple Hills, accusing them of exposing tenants to unsafe living conditions and violating licensing laws. The charges, filed by the Consumer Protection Division, target Heather Hill Property Company LLC, Heather Hill Operating Company LLC, OneWall Communities LLC, as well as CEO Andy Wallace and COO Ron Kutas.

The charges allege that the companies operated Heather Hill by OneWall without a legally required rental housing license from April 2022 until May 2024. During this time, local inspectors reportedly issued multiple violation notices for issues such as mold, water leaks, broken heating and air conditioning systems, inoperable appliances, and infestations of pests, including bats and rodents. According to the Attorney General’s office, the property managers only applied for a rental license in May 2024, at which point they were granted a temporary license.

On June 13, 2024, inspectors issued a notice of violation after finding additional fire and housing code violations across the complex’s buildings, including damaged exit doors, discharged fire extinguishers, unsanitary ceilings, water-stained walls, and broken emergency lighting. The complex allegedly failed a subsequent fire safety inspection in August, leading the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE) to suspend its temporary license. Despite this suspension, the property managers are accused of continuing to charge tenants rent and threatening late fees for missed payments.

The charges also claim that OneWall Communities and its affiliates violated Maryland’s Collection Agency Licensing Act by operating without a required debt collection license. The Consumer Debt Collection Act prohibits entities from attempting to collect debts they know are not legally owed, a statute the Attorney General’s office argues was violated in this case.

“Every Marylander has the right to live in a safe home,” Attorney General Brown said in a statement. “Tenants should never be forced to live in unsanitary or unsafe conditions.”