Philadelphia tenants who sued one of the city’s leading subsidized housing managers over apartment conditions have reached a settlement with the Philadelphia-based nonprofit.

In June, nine tenants sued Columbus Property Management & Developmentaccusing the company of failing to maintain three of its apartment complexes and allowing conditions including mold, leaks, plumbing problems, lack of heat and pest infestations.

The Philadelphia Nonprofit Public Interest Law Centerwho represented the tenants alongside the international law firm Holland and Knighttold The Inquirer in June that he was convinced other buildings overseen by Columbus Property Management were in similar condition.

Columbus owns 34 apartment complexes in Philadelphia and manages approximately 4,500 apartments throughout the Mid-Atlantic. It is largely aimed at low-income or disabled people and other vulnerable populations who use housing assistance. Its parent organization is the Philadelphia-based nonprofit. Mission First Housing Groupan affordable housing developer.

The parties began settlement negotiations “almost immediately” after Columbus was notified of the lawsuit, according to a joint statement released this week.

In the settlement that took effect Friday, Columbus agreed to respond to complaints from tenants at three properties named in the lawsuit: Freedom Village in the Francisville section of North Philadelphia, Powelton Heights in the Powelton section of West Philadelphia and MPB School Apartments in the Strawberry Mansion North Philadelphia section.

The company also agreed to inspect all apartments in its portfolio in the Philadelphia area and repair what needs to be repaired. Columbus must also provide a comprehensive plan for how it will improve apartment inspections and handling of tenant complaints and emergency repairs at all of its Philadelphia-area properties.

Columbus said it began the improvement process before the lawsuit was filed. The company agreed to be monitored by a third party for two years to ensure it delivers on its promises. And plaintiffs can take Columbus to court if it doesn’t comply.

“Philadelphia renters have a right to safe, healthy and decent housing, period,” Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, said in a statement. Columbus is “doing what is right – making serious, enforceable commitments to comply with the letter and spirit of federal, state and local housing laws, so that this right becomes a reality for its tenants.”

» LEARN MORE: Philadelphia tenants file suit, saying their apartments are moldy, leaky and unsafe

Marie Reese, one of the residents who filed the lawsuit, told The Inquirer in June that she was afraid her grandchildren would visit her apartment because of leaks, mold and plumbing problems. She said: “I shouldn’t have to live this way because I live in low-rent accommodation. »

In a statement on the settlement, Reese stressed the importance of tenants speaking out.

“When you use your voice and you speak up, you learn that there are a lot more people going through the same thing,” she said. “This deal will help everyone.”

Ben Wilson, a partner at Holland & Knight, said in a statement that Columbus “plays a critical role in providing affordable housing to Philadelphia communities and vulnerable populations, and we are pleased that (Columbus) responded to the lawsuit with urgency and intentionality in residents’ demands and a renewed commitment to ensuring that tenants of all its properties benefit from quality and safe housing.

Columbus told The Inquirer in June that he took residents’ comments “very seriously.”

“Above all, Columbus Property Management is committed to providing safe, quality and affordable housing for our residents,” Tracy Joyce, Columbus senior vice president of property management, said in a statement this week. “We value residents’ feedback and comments about their housing and are committed to responding to issues in a timely manner. We remain committed to resident satisfaction and will do everything in our power to ensure our facilities reflect this commitment.

The tenants’ suit also sought compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses, loss of damaged property due to the condition of the apartment, rent paid and legal fees, as well as punitive damages. Portions of the settlement are confidential and the portions disclosed did not respond to these requests.

Keith Bailey, one of the tenants who filed the lawsuit, said in a statement that he was going to make sure Columbus lives up to its promises.

“It’s time to let everyone know,” he said, “that you have the right to a safe and pleasant apartment. »