DC Landlord-Tenant Law: What You Need to Know (2026)

Tenby is an AI-powered property management platform for independent landlords managing 1-50 rental units. Tenby's compliance engine includes DC-specific rules — rent control limits, deposit escrow requirements, mandatory interest payments, and required disclosures — automatically tracked and enforced.

Washington, D.C. is one of the most tenant-protective jurisdictions in the country. If you're a landlord in the District, you need to know these rules — getting them wrong can cost you thousands.

Rent control in DC

DC has mandatory rent control for most residential rental units built before 1976.

Key details:

• You must register with the DC Rental Accommodations Division (RAD) before renting
• Rent increases require 30 days written notice
• You must file rent increase petitions with the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA)
• Hardship petitions can allow larger increases (up to 12%) with documentation

Security deposits in DC

Key details:

• The deposit must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a DC-area financial institution
• You must provide the tenant with the name and address of the bank annually
• Interest must be paid to the tenant annually or credited to rent
• Failure to comply can result in forfeiting the deposit and paying the tenant's attorney's fees

Eviction process in DC

DC eviction is complex and heavily regulated. Self-help eviction is illegal and carries criminal penalties.

Grounds for eviction

DC only allows eviction for specific causes:

1. Nonpayment of rent — 30-day notice to cure
2. Lease violation — 30-day notice to cure
3. Illegal activity — varies
4. Personal use by owner — must actually move in and live there for 12 months
5. Renovation/demolition — requires relocation assistance
6. Sale of property — limited circumstances

Timeline

Step	Timeframe
Notice to tenant	30 days (most causes)
Filing with court	After notice period expires
Court hearing	15-21 days after filing
Appeal period	3 days after judgment
Writ of restitution	After appeal period
Marshal execution	7+ days after writ

Total timeline: Expect 60-120 days minimum. Contested cases can take 6+ months.

Tenant protections during eviction

• Right to cure — tenants can pay all back rent and fees to stop a nonpayment eviction up until the court hearing
• Emergency rental assistance — tenants can apply for government assistance to prevent eviction
• Legal representation — DC provides free legal counsel to tenants in eviction cases
• Sealed eviction records — eviction records are sealed from public view

Late fees in DC

Rule	DC Law
Grace period	5 days (required)
Maximum fee	5% of monthly rent
Must be in lease?	Yes

Required disclosures in DC

DC requires extensive disclosures:

1. Rent control registration — provide registration number and maximum legal rent
2. Lead paint disclosure — for properties built before 1978
3. Housing code violations — any outstanding violations must be disclosed
4. Tenant's Bill of Rights — must be provided to every new tenant
5. Mold disclosure — known mold conditions
6. Flood risk — if applicable
7. Bed bug history — disclosure of infestations in the past 120 days
8. Owner/agent contact information — name, address, and phone number
9. Security deposit bank information — name and address of the escrow institution

Maintenance obligations

DC landlords must:

• Maintain the property in compliance with the DC Housing Code
• Provide heat from October 1 through May 1 (minimum 68°F during the day, 65°F at night)
• Provide hot and cold running water
• Maintain all common areas
• Respond to repair requests within a reasonable time (14 days is the general standard)
• Provide working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Tenant remedies for maintenance failures:

• Repair and deduct (after proper notice)
• Rent withholding through DC's rent escrow program
• Filing complaints with the Department of Buildings (DOB)
• Seeking rent abatement through the courts

Tenant rights in DC

DC tenants have some of the strongest protections in the country:

• Right of first refusal — tenants must be offered the opportunity to purchase the building before it's sold (TOPA — Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act)
• Relocation assistance — required if the landlord evicts for renovation, demolition, or personal use ($6,000+ depending on unit size)
• Source of income protection — landlords cannot discriminate against tenants using housing vouchers, SSI, or other government assistance
• Just cause eviction — landlords can only evict for specific legal reasons
• Rent increase limitations — CPI-based cap for most units

How Tenby helps DC landlords

DC compliance is complex. Tenby handles it:

• Rent control tracking — monitors CPI-based increase limits
• Deposit escrow alerts — tracks interest payments and bank account requirements
• 45-day return deadline with automatic countdown
• Required disclosure checklist — includes DC-specific items (Tenant Bill of Rights, bed bug history, etc.)
• 5-day grace period and 5% late fee cap enforced automatically
• Maintenance SLA tracking — ensures timely response documentation

The bottom line

DC is one of the hardest jurisdictions for landlords. Rent control, TOPA, just-cause eviction, deposit escrow with interest, and extensive disclosure requirements make compliance essential. Know the rules, document everything, and use a system that tracks your obligations automatically. The penalties for non-compliance in DC are severe.