Dear Georgetown University Students,
At Georgetown University, we take the safety of our community members very seriously. We are writing today with some important information regarding your safety while living in properties off-campus. As you may have seen from the Timely Warning emailed from GUPD earlier today, two incidents of arson and malicious burning were recently reported on the 3300 block of Prospect Street NW.
The District of Columbia requires all rental properties to be properly inspected and licensed. DC grants rental properties a Basic Business License (BBL) and conducts inspections to ensure properties meet the minimum standards for fire and health safety required by DC law.
You can check to see if your property has a BBL and has been inspected by visiting pivs.dcra.dc.gov and creating a free account. Enter your address and you will see a record of the property. On the top toolbar you can click “Licenses,” and this tab will show whether the property has a license.
If your property does not have a BBL, or if you think your property may not be in compliance with fire and health safety standards, please reach out to the Office of Neighborhood Life (ONL) at neighborhoodlife@georgetown.edu or (202) 687-5138. ONL will work with you and DC officials to schedule an inspection at your convenience. For information or advice related to fire and life safety, please email firemarshal@georgetown.edu.
Inspections by DC take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and there is no cost to you. This inspection ensures that your home has appropriate points of exit in case of a fire, safe outlets and other electrical wiring, proper fire suppression and notification systems, operational heating systems, and is free from mold, insects, rats, mice and other health hazards. If you cannot or do not wish to be present during the inspection, you may sign a release form waiving your right to be present and a member of the Georgetown Student Tenant Association (GSTA) can represent you and your roommates for the inspection. Students living off campus are strongly encouraged to register for the Georgetown University fire and life safety course by emailing firemarshal@georgetown.edu.
ONL offers free fire escape ladders and can help you obtain other fire safety equipment if you need it.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters, and we hope you have a great semester.
Sincerely,
The Office of Neighborhood Life