When a DC landlord displaces tenants for substantial rehab, demolition, condo conversion, or owner-occupancy, the Rental Housing Act requires statutory relocation payments based on bedroom count and household status.
DC Code 42-3507.01 et seq. requires relocation assistance whenever tenants are forced to vacate due to substantial rehabilitation, demolition, change of use, or certain owner-occupancy claims. Payment amounts adjust annually and scale with bedroom count, with elderly and disabled households receiving enhanced amounts. Landlords must serve a 120-day or 180-day notice to vacate (depending on cause), pay relocation assistance before the move-out date, and offer right of first refusal on any new units in the redeveloped building. The DC Department of Housing and Community Development sets and publishes the schedule of relocation amounts.
Failing to pay relocation assistance, shortchanging elderly or disabled tenants, or evicting before payment voids the eviction and exposes the landlord to damages, AG enforcement, and license action.
Washington, DC
DC provides strong just-cause eviction protections under the Rental Housing Act (DC Code Section 42-3505.01). Landlords may only evict tenants for specific e...
Washington, DC
DC has one of the strongest rent control programs in the United States under the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Code Section 42-3501.01 et seq.). Rent increa...
See how Washington's relocation assistance rules stack up against other locations.
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