Question 1

How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A security deposit may not exceed the first full month's rent and may be charged only once.

Question 2

How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the owner must either return the deposit with interest due, or give written notice (in person or by certified mail) of intent to withhold. If notice is given, the owner must refund the balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after it. Bad-faith withholding can bring treble damages.

Question 3

How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

At least 48 hours' written notice (or shorter if the tenant agrees in writing), between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and not on Sundays or federal holidays, except emergencies.

Question 4

How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A rent increase is not effective until the first rent day more than 60 calendar days after written notice is given.

Question 5

Can a landlord charge a late fee in District of Columbia, and how much?

Accepted Answer

Only after rent is 5 days late (or a longer lease grace period); maximum 5% of the rent due, once per late payment; the lease must state the maximum fee, and a tenant cannot be evicted for an unpaid late fee.

Question 6

What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Notice of intent to file at least 10 days before filing a nonpayment eviction claim. No such notice, and no filing, if less than $600 is owed.

Question 7

Can cities in District of Columbia pass rent control?

Accepted Answer

No preemption: D.C. runs its own rent stabilization program. For covered units, the annual adjustment of general applicability equals the prior year's CPI-W change, may not exceed 10%, and may be taken only once every 12 months (other adjustments under subsection (c) also apply).

Question 8

How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant may not be evicted, even after the lease expires, as long as the tenant keeps paying the rent the housing provider is entitled to. An eviction requires a written notice meeting statutory requirements and a ground listed in the statute. So a landlord cannot end a month-to-month tenancy simply by giving notice.

Question 9

Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at an insured DC financial institution. Interest accrues to the tenant at no less than the statement savings rate (reset Jan. 1 and July 1) and is payable at the end of any tenancy of 12 months or more. The landlord must post yearly where deposits are held and the rates paid.

Question 10

Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

DC's security-deposit regulations (14 DCMR 308-311) require no move-in inspection. They allow an optional move-out inspection within 3 business days before or after the tenancy ends, with at least 10 days' written notice to the tenant of its date and time.

Question 11

Is landlord retaliation illegal in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Housing providers may not retaliate against tenants for exercising legal rights, including through eviction attempts, rent increases, service cuts, harassment or refusal to renew. If the tenant made a repair request, complained to an agency, joined a tenant organization or did certain other acts within the 6 months before the action, retaliation is presumed. The housing provider must rebut it with clear and convincing evidence.

Question 12

Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant who keeps paying the rent owed may be evicted only on the grounds the law allows, and at the time of an eviction the landlord must change the locks in the presence of the U.S. Marshals. A housing provider may not remove an evicted tenant's belongings except under the statute's storage rules. The D.C. Court of Appeals has held self-help eviction unlawful (Mendes v. Johnson, 1978); that point comes from case law, not the Code.

Question 13

What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

If a rental building is cited for a housing code violation that seriously threatens tenants' health, safety or security, and the owner fails to fix it in time after notice, the court can appoint a receiver to make repairs.

Question 14

What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

When a prospective tenant applies, the housing provider must give a disclosure form published by the Rent Administrator listing the applicable rent, any pending petitions that could affect the unit, and other required items, with supporting documents.

Question 15

What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

At least 21 days before an eviction, the housing provider must notify the tenant by phone or electronic message, first-class mail and posting. The notice must warn that property left behind is deemed abandoned 7 days after the eviction, excluding Sundays and federal holidays. Evicted tenants' property may be removed only as this section allows.

Question 16

Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense (or the parent of a minor victim) is released from the lease by giving written notice with a protection order or a qualified third party's documentation. The request must be made within 90 days of the incident. Release takes effect 14 days after the landlord receives it, or when a new tenancy starts if sooner. Rent is prorated.

Question 17

Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

5-day grace period (or longer if the lease allows). Late fees are capped at 5% of the rent due, must be stated in the lease, may be charged only once per late payment, and cannot be grounds for eviction.

Question 18

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 or other source of income in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Source of income is a protected trait in DC housing.

Question 19

What happens if a tenant stays after the lease ends in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant who gave notice to quit but then refuses to leave without a reasonable excuse owes double rent for the whole time they wrongfully hold over.

Question 20

Does a landlord have to give notice before not renewing a lease in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant can't be evicted just because the lease or rental agreement has expired, as long as they keep paying the rent the housing provider is entitled to. Any eviction for a reason other than nonpayment needs a written notice to vacate that meets the statute's requirements.

Question 21

Can a tenant sublet an apartment in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

In a rent-stabilized unit, a tenant may not sublet at a rent higher than what the tenant pays the housing provider.

Question 22

Does a landlord need just cause to evict in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A tenant who keeps paying the rent owed cannot be evicted, even after the lease ends, except for the reasons listed in the law, and every eviction notice must state the reasons. Code text: "no tenant shall be evicted from a rental unit, notwithstanding the expiration of the tenant's lease or rental agreement, so long as the tenant continues to pay the rent to which the housing provider is entitled for the rental unit."

Question 23

What is the eviction notices for other grounds (lease violation, no-fault) rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

For a lease violation, the landlord must serve a notice to correct the violation or vacate, and can recover the unit only if the tenant does not fix it within 30 days. Notices for reasons other than nonpayment must also be served on the Rent Administrator. Code text: "A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit where the tenant is violating an obligation of tenancy and fails to correct the violation within 30 days after receiving from the housing provider a notice to correct the violation or vacate."

Question 24

What is the right to cure / redeem rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for lease violations: the tenant has 30 days after the notice to correct the violation. Code text: "fails to correct the violation within 30 days after receiving from the housing provider a notice to correct the violation or vacate."

Question 25

What is the domestic violence early termination rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense (DC's domestic violence category), or the parent of a minor victim, can be released from the lease with written notice and a protection order or documentation from a qualified third party such as a domestic violence counselor. The request must be made within 90 days of the incident, and release takes effect 14 days after the landlord gets the notice. Code text: "a tenant who is released from the rental agreement under this section shall be liable only for his or her rental payment obligation."

Question 26

What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after" entering military service, the date of the military orders, or the date of a stop movement order (50 U.S.C. 3955(a)(1)(A)-(C)).

Question 27

Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Housing providers may not ask about or consider arrests that did not lead to a conviction, and may not ask about pending accusations or convictions until after a conditional offer. Statute text: "A housing provider may not make an inquiry about or consider a previous arrest of the applicant if the arrest did not result in a conviction" (D.C. Code § 42-3541.02(a)).

Question 28

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Application fees are capped at $50 (adjustable annually for inflation since 2024), and no other fee may be charged before lease signing. Statute text: "A housing provider may require a prospective tenant to pay an application fee. Such an application fee will be no more than $50" (D.C. Code § 42-3505.10(b)(1)).

Question 29

What disclosures must a landlord give in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

On a tenant's written request (once a year), the housing provider must disclose the rent increases of the past 3 years within 10 business days; applicants must also get a rent and building-status disclosure form. Statute text: "At the written request of a tenant not more than one time each calendar year, a housing provider shall, within 10 business days on a form provided by the Rent Administrator (or in another suitable format until a form is published), provide the amount of each increase in the amount of rent charged for the tenant’s rental unit during the preceding 3 years on which the current rent charged is based, including the basis for each increase and, if applicable, the identification of any substantially identical rental unit on which a vacancy increase was based" (D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(a)).

Question 30

What is the tenant relocation assistance rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Before substantially rehabilitating, demolishing or discontinuing housing use, the housing provider must serve each tenant written notice that tells them of their right to relocation assistance and how to apply. Statute text: "The notice shall advise the tenants of their right to relocation assistance under this chapter or any other District law, and the procedures for applying for the assistance" (D.C. Code § 42-3507.01).

Question 31

Does a landlord have to provide smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Owners must install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in each occupied dwelling unit as the Construction Codes require. Statute text: "The owner of each new and existing occupied dwelling unit shall be responsible for installing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in accordance with the Construction Codes" (D.C. Code § 6-751.02).

Question 32

What is the rental / transient occupancy tax rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

DC adds a separate 4.45% tax on transient lodging receipts on top of the sales tax imposed under § 47-2002. Statute text: "A tax, separate from, and in addition to, the tax imposed pursuant to § 47-2002 , is imposed on vendors engaging in the business activities listed in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section" (D.C. Code § 47-2002.02(1)(A)).

Question 33

What is the condo conversion protections rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A rental building cannot be converted to a condo or co-op until the Mayor certifies compliance with the conversion law (which includes a tenant election). Statute text: "(1) An owner shall not convert a housing accommodation into a condominium or a cooperative until the Mayor certifies compliance with the provisions of this chapter." (D.C. Code § 42–3402.02). Separately, under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, before selling a rental building or issuing a notice to vacate for demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the owner must give tenants the opportunity to buy it on bona fide terms (D.C. Code § 42-3404.02(a)). Statute text: "Before an owner of a housing accommodation may sell the housing accommodation or issue a notice to vacate for purposes of demolition or discontinuance of housing use, the owner shall give the tenant an opportunity to purchase the housing accommodation at a price and terms that represent a bona fide offer of sale."

Question 34

What are the Airbnb / short-term rental rules in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Short-term rentals need a basic business license with a Short-Term Rental endorsement. Statute text: "A short-term rental shall require a valid basic business license with a "Short-Term Rental" endorsement, in addition to any other license required by law." (D.C. Code § 30–201.02).

Question 35

Can the city inspect my rental property in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

The Mayor (through DC's housing inspectors) may inspect rental housing for code compliance at reasonable hours; a tenant's own unit needs the tenant's permission, an administrative search warrant, or an emergency. Statute text: "(a) Notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary, for the purpose of determining whether any housing accommodation is in compliance with applicable housing rules or construction code rules, the Mayor may enter upon and into any housing accommodation in the District, during all reasonable hours, to inspect the same; provided, that if a tenant of a housing accommodation does not give permission to inspect that portion of the premises under the tenant’s exclusive control, the Mayor shall not enter that portion of the premises unless the Mayor has: (1) A valid administrative search warrant pursuant to subsection (d) of this section which permits the inspection; or (2) A reasonable basis to believe that exigent circumstances require immediate entry into that portion of the premises to prevent an imminent danger to the public health or welfare." (D.C. Code § 42–3509.08).

Question 36

What is the eviction record sealing rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Eviction court records are sealed automatically: 30 days after the case ends if the landlord did not win possession, or 3 years after it ends if the landlord did. Statute text: "(a) The Superior Court of the District of Columbia ("Superior Court") shall seal all court records relating to an eviction proceeding: (1) If the eviction proceeding does not result in a judgment for possession in favor of the housing provider, 30 days after the final resolution of the eviction proceeding; or (2) If the eviction proceeding results in a judgement for possession in favor of the housing provider, 3 years after the final resolution of the eviction proceeding." (D.C. Code § 42–3505.09).

Question 37

How does the eviction court process work in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

An eviction case starts with a Superior Court summons, which must be served at least 14 days before the initial hearing. Statute text: "(a) The summons provided for by section 16-1501 shall be served at least 14 days before the day fixed for the initial hearing of the action." (D.C. Code § 16–1502).

Question 38

Do landlords need a rental license or registration in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Housing providers must file a rental registration statement (or claim of exemption) with the Rent Administrator within 30 days of becoming a housing provider. Statute text: "(2) A person who becomes a housing provider of a housing accommodation 90 days or more after completion of the publicly accessible rent control housing database created pursuant to § 42-3502.03c , shall file a registration statement and, if applicable, claim of exemption, within 30 days after becoming a housing provider." (D.C. Code § 42–3502.05(f)).

Question 39

What is the property manager licensing rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

The District of Columbia licenses property managers as a separate occupation under its Real Estate Brokers and Property Managers law. A property manager acts for the owner in property management matters for pay, and may not list, sell or negotiate sales or loans. Statute text: "the term “property manager” means an agent for the owner of real estate in all matters pertaining to property management as defined in this subchapter, which are under his or her direction, and who is paid a commission, fee, or other valuable consideration for his or her services" (D.C. Code § 47-2853.141).

Question 40

What federal protections does a tenant have after foreclosure in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Federal law that applies in every state: under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (made permanent in 2018), whoever takes over a home through foreclosure must give a bona fide tenant at least 90 days' notice to vacate. A tenant with a bona fide lease signed before the notice of foreclosure (the date title passes) can stay until the lease ends, unless the unit is sold to a buyer who will live there as a primary residence; that buyer must still give the 90-day notice. Month-to-month and at-will tenants also get the 90 days. A tenancy is bona fide only if the tenant is not the borrower or the borrower's child, spouse or parent, the deal was at arm's length, and the rent is not far below market (unless it is subsidized). State or local laws with longer notice or more protection still apply, and any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Statute text: "the provision, by such successor in interest of a notice to vacate to any bona fide tenant at least 90 days before the effective date of such notice" (Pub. L. 111-22, SEC. 702(a)(1)).

Question 41

Does District of Columbia have rent control?

Accepted Answer

For rent-stabilized units, a rent increase for an occupied unit may not exceed the annual adjustment of general applicability plus 2%, and never more than 10%. Units occupied by elderly tenants or tenants with disabilities get lower limits under § 42-3502.24. Coverage and exemptions (for example many newer buildings and small landlords) are set in § 42-3502.05.

Question 42

What is the deposit bank holding / separate account rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Security deposits must be kept in an interest-bearing escrow account held in trust at a federally or state insured financial institution in the District, used only for holding deposits.

Question 43

How much does it cost to file an eviction in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

The D.C. Superior Court Landlord and Tenant Branch charges $15 to file a complaint. A writ of restitution costs $213 ($10 court fee, $195 U.S. Marshal fee and $8 Marshal administrative fee).

Question 44

What rights does a tenant have after foreclosure in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A foreclosure buyer may not issue a notice to quit, sue for possession or charge rent to a current occupant until a deed to the buyer is recorded, and tenancies that survive foreclosure keep their rights (42-815.05). A tenant who keeps paying rent may be evicted only on the grounds listed in 42-3505.01, even after the lease expires.

Question 45

What is the scra / military lease termination rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Under federal law (50 U.S.C. 3955), a servicemember may end a residential lease after entering military service or receiving qualifying orders, with written notice and a copy of the orders. D.C. Code title 42 chapters 32 and 35 (reviewed by full-text search) add no separate military termination right.

Question 46

What happens to the lease when a tenant dies in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

There is no D.C. Code provision on ending a lease when a tenant dies in D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 and 35. Full-text search (code.dccouncil.gov full-chapter pages).

Question 47

What is the pet deposits/fees & service/esa animals rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

There is no D.C. Code provision on pet deposits or pet rules in D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 and 35. Full-text search (code.dccouncil.gov full-chapter pages).

Question 48

Can a tenant fix something and deduct it from rent in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

There is no D.C. Code provision letting tenants repair and deduct in D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 and 35. Full-text search (code.dccouncil.gov full-chapter pages).

Question 49

Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

There is no D.C. Code provision on rent withholding or escrow in D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 and 35. Full-text search (code.dccouncil.gov full-chapter pages).

Question 50

What is the tenant buyout disclosures rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

There is no D.C. Code provision on tenant buyout agreements or disclosures in D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32, 34 and 35. Full-text search (code.dccouncil.gov full-chapter pages). Chapter 34 (tenant opportunity to purchase and conversion) was added to the search on 2026-10-23 and has no buyout disclosure provision.

Question 51

What is the warranty of habitability in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Every D.C. lease or rental agreement includes an implied warranty that the owner will keep the premises in compliance with the D.C. housing code (14 DCMR § 301.1). For rent-controlled units, the rent may not be raised above base rent unless the unit and common areas are in substantial compliance with the housing regulations, and prolonged uncorrected violations can lead the Rent Administrator to roll back rents (D.C. Code § 42-3502.08(a)). Regulation text: "There shall be deemed to be included in the terms of any lease or rental agreement covering a habitation an implied warranty that the owner will maintain the premises in compliance with this subtitle."

Question 52

What is the guest & occupancy limits rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A full-text search of D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 (Landlord and Tenant) and 35 (Rental Housing Generally), official text on the D.C. Law Library, fetched 2026-11-12, found no District-wide numeric occupancy cap or guest-stay limit in those chapters. The lease terms control unless another law, including a housing regulation or other provision outside those chapters, applies. Local ordinances or other laws outside those chapters, including the Housing Regulations, may still apply.

Question 53

What is the rent receipts, payment methods & cash rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A full-text search of D.C. Code title 42, chapters 32 (Landlord and Tenant) and 35 (Rental Housing Generally), official text on the D.C. Law Library, fetched 2026-11-12, found no District-wide rule requiring a landlord to give a rent receipt, and no rule requiring or banning payment of rent in cash, by check, or by electronic funds transfer. Chapter 35 does include § 42-3505.31, which allows a late fee of no more than 5 percent of the full rent due only if the written lease tells the tenant the maximum fee and the tenant has not paid the full rent within five days after it is due, or any longer grace period in the lease. That section is a late-fee rule, not a payment-method or receipt rule. The official chapter 35 text also includes § 42-3505.71 (a rent-payment reporting program), added by emergency legislation (D.C. Act 26-416, Aug. 13, 2026) and flagged in the official text as expiring on November 11, 2026; that section is not treated here as current law. The lease terms control the method of payment unless another law outside those chapters applies.

Question 54

What is the manufactured / mobile home parks rule in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

A full-text search of the official Code of the District of Columbia, current through November 3, 2026 on the D.C. Law Library, found no District-wide manufactured-home-park or mobile-home-park tenancy statute that sets notice periods, just-cause limits, lot-rent rules, or other park-specific occupancy rights. Hits on the stems "mobile home," "manufactured home," "trailer camp," and related terms are vehicle, secured-transaction, energy-efficiency, or public-accommodation definitions, not a park-tenancy statute. Title 42, chapters 32 (Landlord and Tenant) and 35 (Rental Housing Generally) also contain no manufactured-home-park tenancy rule. Under § 42-3501.03(14) and (33), a "housing accommodation" is any structure or building in the District containing one or more rental units and the land appurtenant to it, and a "rental unit" is any part of a housing accommodation rented or offered for rent for residential occupancy, including an apartment, efficiency apartment, room, single-family house and the land appurtenant to it, a suite of rooms, or a duplex. Those definitions do not mention manufactured-home lots, and this answer does not decide whether chapter 35 applies to a particular lot rental. The Human Rights Act lists "trailer camps" among places of public accommodation in § 2-1401.02(24). That is an antidiscrimination definition, not a tenancy or eviction rule. Lease terms and other law, including the Housing Regulations or the general rental-housing statutes, may still apply. Other official-code hits that use those stems, and that are not treated as a park-tenancy rule, are: § 8-1771.02(b)(3) (energy-efficiency standards do not apply to products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of construction); §§ 22-3215(a) and 22-3233 (criminal motor-vehicle definitions that include a self-propelled mobile home); § 50-601(6) (installment sales: "motor vehicle" includes a mobile home); § 50-501(9) (automobile consumer protection: the term "motor vehicle" does not include motor homes or motorized recreational vehicles); and Uniform Commercial Code Article 9, including § 28:9-102(53) and (54) (definitions of "manufactured home" and "manufactured-home transaction" for secured transactions). § 42-1218 authorizes Recorder of Deeds fees for recording liens on motor vehicles or trailers. Missing information is not treated as "no restriction."

District of Columbia landlord-tenant law FAQ