D.C. requires at least 60 days' written notice before any rent increase under D.C. Code § 42-3509.04, and rent for the roughly 90,000 rent-controlled units may rise only once per 12 months, tied to the CPI-based adjustment of general applicability. Elderly and disabled tenants receive an even lower cap.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3509.04(b), no rent increase is effective 'until the first day on which rent is normally paid occurring more than 60 calendar days after the notice of the increase is given to the tenant.' For rent-controlled units, § 42-3502.08 bars any increase 'until a full 12 months have elapsed since any prior increase,' and the increase is capped at the adjustment of general applicability — CPI-W plus 2%, never exceeding 10%. For elderly tenants and tenants with a disability, § 42-3502.24 limits increases to the least of the general adjustment, the Social Security COLA, or 5%. For rent-control year 2026 the Rental Housing Commission set 4.1% for standard units and 2.1% for elderly/disability tenants.
Charging an unlawful or improperly noticed increase is a rent-control violation; a tenant may file a petition with the Rental Accommodations Division and recover the rent overcharge, and willful violations can carry treble damages and civil fines.
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