Baltimore Inspector Accused of Accepting Bribe for Approval

Khristoph Hamlin, a property manager, accused a Baltimore city housing inspector of accepting a $100 bribe to approve a rental property that had unresolved safety issues. The property, managed by Hamlin's company, failed inspection due to 26 identified issues, including a basement window grate that needed removal.

Despite these concerns, the inspector allegedly requested money to pass the inspection. Hamlin reported that the inspector asked for $100 to facilitate the approval process, stating, "We want to get this done." Following the incident, Hamlin filed a formal complaint with the Baltimore City Housing Authority (HABC), which stated it takes allegations of misconduct seriously and is investigating the matter.

HABC emphasized that employees are prohibited from misrepresenting their positions for unauthorized purposes. Hamlin ultimately decided not to rent the property through the housing assistance program and instead opted for market-rate tenants.