Our ceiling collapsed. Yours doesn't have to. Demands for Courthouse Plaza Apartments Mgmt
The Issue
To: Equity Residential Management, L.L.C.
Re: Courthouse Plaza Apartments (2250 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201)
Ever feel like you're being failed by management repeatedly?
You report an issue. They send someone to "fix" it. You're told it's resolved. And then—days or weeks later—it happens again. Same leak. Same problem. Same empty promises. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. These repeated failures may result in something that threatens your safety, like a ceiling collapse in our case. You have more power than you think to hold Equity Management accountable and protect your rights.
Our Collective Demand
We, the undersigned tenants of Courthouse Plaza Apartments, demand that management:
- Permanently address all roof, water intrusion, and structural issues in this building—not with temporary patches, but with real, lasting solutions
- Provide written confirmation of the source of all leaks and a clear, long-term repair plan
- Comply with all Virginia landlord-tenant laws, including the duty to maintain fit and habitable premises
If these issues are not resolved, we are prepared to exercise our legal right to terminate our leases without penalty, under Virginia Code § 55.1-1240.
Why We Are Organizing
We are tenants of Unit 2002. In the last 1.5 years, we have experienced:
- Four separate roof leaks in our unit.
- Multiple repair attempts, each time with management assuring us the problem has been fixed.
- The ceiling collapsing twice around midnight of August 2nd and August 3, 2026 respectively from heavy rain, which resulted in a 3-foot hole in the roof. Management did not address it until the next morning in both instances.
- Two new water stains appearing on the ceiling since the collapse, to which the maintenance staff could not explain the cause 9 days later.
- Repeated verbal admissions from management that they cannot guarantee the source of the leak has been found, or the collapse would happen again.
We no longer feel safe in our home. And we know we may not be the only ones. Management is demanding a 30-day notice for us to move out while we fear for our safety in this unit, holding us liable for one-month additional rent beyond our actual occupancy. They have made with no offers to compensate for the distress we have endured throughout this process.
If it happened to us, it could happen to you. If we stay silent, they will keep doing this to ourselves and the next tenant. We have no choice but to leave as we do not accept being expected to live in this unit long-term with significant structural safety concerns.
Our silence is what allows them to keep doing this. Sign this petition. Protect your rights. Protect your neighbors. Protect yourself.
The Law Is On Our Side
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1220(A)(2), landlords are required to:
"Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition."
The law requires a result—not just repair attempts. A roof that leaks four times, collapses, and continues to show new stains means the landlord has failed to "keep" the premises habitable and without substantial risks.
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1240, if a casualty (such as a tornado) substantially impairs a tenant's enjoyment of the unit, the tenant has the right to terminate the lease without penalty.
What this means for you: If you have experienced recurring maintenance issues that have not been permanently resolved, you may have the legal right to move out without paying an early termination fee, lease break fee, and have your security deposit as well as any prepaid rent refunded.
Sign This Petition
By signing, you confirm that you have experienced unresolved maintenance or safety issues in your unit. Your name will be added to a petition that will be presented to management to demand permanent solutions.
Your Rights Are Protected
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1258, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for organizing or joining a tenant's organization.
This means management cannot:
- Increase your rent in retaliation
- Decrease your services
- Threaten or bring an eviction action
- Terminate your rental agreement
You have the right to speak up—and we are stronger together.
Your resources
Legal protection may be more affordable than you think. If you have questions about your rights under Virginia law, you can contact:
- Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Services: https://vsb.org/Site/Site/legal-help/vlrs.asp; (800) 552-7977
- Arlington County Bar Lawyer Referral Services: https://arlington.barlrs.com/ (703) 228-3390
- At either Lawyer Referral Services, you may be able to have a 30-minute consultation with a private attorney for a fee between $35-$50.
- Consult General District Court – You can file a small claims case for damages up to $5,000. Filing and serving Equity Management typically costs under $100.
- Free legal answers: https://virginia.freelegalanswers.org/
- Legal Aid Justice Center: (703) 778-3450
- Legal Services of Northern Virginia: (703) 778-6800
This petition is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Tenants should consult an attorney for advice on their specific situation.
23
The Issue
To: Equity Residential Management, L.L.C.
Re: Courthouse Plaza Apartments (2250 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201)
Ever feel like you're being failed by management repeatedly?
You report an issue. They send someone to "fix" it. You're told it's resolved. And then—days or weeks later—it happens again. Same leak. Same problem. Same empty promises. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. These repeated failures may result in something that threatens your safety, like a ceiling collapse in our case. You have more power than you think to hold Equity Management accountable and protect your rights.
Our Collective Demand
We, the undersigned tenants of Courthouse Plaza Apartments, demand that management:
- Permanently address all roof, water intrusion, and structural issues in this building—not with temporary patches, but with real, lasting solutions
- Provide written confirmation of the source of all leaks and a clear, long-term repair plan
- Comply with all Virginia landlord-tenant laws, including the duty to maintain fit and habitable premises
If these issues are not resolved, we are prepared to exercise our legal right to terminate our leases without penalty, under Virginia Code § 55.1-1240.
Why We Are Organizing
We are tenants of Unit 2002. In the last 1.5 years, we have experienced:
- Four separate roof leaks in our unit.
- Multiple repair attempts, each time with management assuring us the problem has been fixed.
- The ceiling collapsing twice around midnight of August 2nd and August 3, 2026 respectively from heavy rain, which resulted in a 3-foot hole in the roof. Management did not address it until the next morning in both instances.
- Two new water stains appearing on the ceiling since the collapse, to which the maintenance staff could not explain the cause 9 days later.
- Repeated verbal admissions from management that they cannot guarantee the source of the leak has been found, or the collapse would happen again.
We no longer feel safe in our home. And we know we may not be the only ones. Management is demanding a 30-day notice for us to move out while we fear for our safety in this unit, holding us liable for one-month additional rent beyond our actual occupancy. They have made with no offers to compensate for the distress we have endured throughout this process.
If it happened to us, it could happen to you. If we stay silent, they will keep doing this to ourselves and the next tenant. We have no choice but to leave as we do not accept being expected to live in this unit long-term with significant structural safety concerns.
Our silence is what allows them to keep doing this. Sign this petition. Protect your rights. Protect your neighbors. Protect yourself.
The Law Is On Our Side
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1220(A)(2), landlords are required to:
"Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition."
The law requires a result—not just repair attempts. A roof that leaks four times, collapses, and continues to show new stains means the landlord has failed to "keep" the premises habitable and without substantial risks.
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1240, if a casualty (such as a tornado) substantially impairs a tenant's enjoyment of the unit, the tenant has the right to terminate the lease without penalty.
What this means for you: If you have experienced recurring maintenance issues that have not been permanently resolved, you may have the legal right to move out without paying an early termination fee, lease break fee, and have your security deposit as well as any prepaid rent refunded.
Sign This Petition
By signing, you confirm that you have experienced unresolved maintenance or safety issues in your unit. Your name will be added to a petition that will be presented to management to demand permanent solutions.
Your Rights Are Protected
Under Virginia Code § 55.1-1258, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for organizing or joining a tenant's organization.
This means management cannot:
- Increase your rent in retaliation
- Decrease your services
- Threaten or bring an eviction action
- Terminate your rental agreement
You have the right to speak up—and we are stronger together.
Your resources
Legal protection may be more affordable than you think. If you have questions about your rights under Virginia law, you can contact:
- Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Services: https://vsb.org/Site/Site/legal-help/vlrs.asp; (800) 552-7977
- Arlington County Bar Lawyer Referral Services: https://arlington.barlrs.com/ (703) 228-3390
- At either Lawyer Referral Services, you may be able to have a 30-minute consultation with a private attorney for a fee between $35-$50.
- Consult General District Court – You can file a small claims case for damages up to $5,000. Filing and serving Equity Management typically costs under $100.
- Free legal answers: https://virginia.freelegalanswers.org/
- Legal Aid Justice Center: (703) 778-3450
- Legal Services of Northern Virginia: (703) 778-6800
This petition is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Tenants should consult an attorney for advice on their specific situation.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on August 11, 2026