District of Columbia Landlord Tenant Law - Click here to return to US Landlord

INFORMATION
REGARDING
EVICTIONS

Tenant's Guide: Page 27 
A landlord may not evict a tenant from a rental unit for any reason, other 
than for non -payment, unless he or she has served the tenant with a valid 
written notice to vacate. There are several types of notices to vacate, 
which may be challenged. These are explained below. 
Violations of Obligation of Tenancy 

An "obligation of tenancy" refers only to those obligations, which are 
contained in the written lease agreement or in the Housing Code. The 
alleged violation must have occurred no more than six (6) months prior to 
the issuance of the notice. The law requires a landlord to provide to the 
tenant a thirty (30) day written notice, referred to as a "Notice To Correct 
Or Vacate." The tenant has 30 days to correct the alleged violation. The 
law allows the landlord to include in the notice a statement that if the 
violations are not corrected in the thirty (30) day period, the tenant may be 
evicted, after the housing provider takes the appropriate steps to secure 
posses sion of the premises. 
Substantial Rehabilitation, Alteration, Renovation 
At times, a landlord may plan to substantially rehabilitate or renovate the 
housing unit. Under these circumstances, the landlord must also provide 
a notice to vacate that includes among other things the basis for the 
eviction, and the minimum time to vacate. There are several other points 
regarding these types of notices to vacate: 
1. If the tenant is required to vacate the unit to 
complete the rehabilitation, the notice shall 
provide the tenants 120 days to vacate. 
2. The notice shall also inform the tenant of their 
right to relocation assistance. You should 
check with the Housing Regulation Customer 
Service Center regarding the amounts of 
money that are to be provided by the landlord.

Tenant's Guide: Page 28

RETALIATORY ACTION 
Many tenants express concern, regarding the reaction of landlords, when 
voicing their complaints regarding alleged violations of the Housing Code 
and the Rental Housing Act of 1985. Su bchapter V of the Rental Housing 
Act of 1985 and Section 307 of the District of Columbia Housing 
Regulations prevent landlords from taking retaliatory action against 
tenants for exercising their rights as allowed by the regulations. 
Retaliatory action i ncludes the following. 

0 Any action by the landlord to recover 
possession of the rental unit in violation of 
the rules and regulations pursuant to the 
District of Columbia Housing Regulations 
and the Rental Housing Act of 1985. 
0 Any action which would u nlawfully 
increase rent, decrease services, increase 
the obligation of a tenant, or constitute 
undue or unavoidable inconvenience, 
violate the privacy of a tenant, harass the 
tenant, or reduce the quality or quantity of 
service. 
0 Any refusal to honor a l ease or rental 
agreement or any provision of a lease or 
rental agreement, refusal to renew a lease 
or rental agreement, and 
0 Any other form of threat or coercion. 

Tenants, who feel that a landlord has retaliated against them for 
exercising their rights, should contact the Housing Regulation 
Administration Customer Service Center. 


SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT TELEPHONE
NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES 

1. Office of Director 442-8947 
Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs 
941 N. Capitol Street, N.E. 
Suite 9500 
Washington, D.C. 20002 
2. Office of Administrator 442-4600 
Housing Regulation Administration 
Room 7280 

3. Office of the Rent Administrator 442-4610 
Rental Accommodations and Conversion 
Division ­ Room 7280 
4. Program Manager 442-7317 
Housing Regulation and Enforcement 
Division ­ Room 7228 
Code Enforcement Branch - Room 412 

5. Housing Regulation Services Center 442-4610 
For Rent Control Act Concerns and 
Housing Code Violations 
6. Office of Adjudication 442-8167 
Room 9100 
7. Rental Housing Commission 442-8949 
Room 9200 
8. Housing Business Licenses 442-4150 
Business Service Division - First Floor 
Business Regulation Administration 
9. Certificate of Occupancy Branch 442-9470 
Building and Land Regulation Administration 
Room 2400