District of Columbia Lease Termination and Just Cause

Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a), '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.' A landlord must establish a statutory just cause and give the corresponding notice to vacate: 30 days to correct a lease violation, 90 days for owner or purchaser personal occupancy, 120 days for renovation or substantial rehabilitation, and 180 days for demolition or discontinuance of housing use. Service-member tenants may terminate early under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, and D.C. law gives victims of domestic violence or sexual assault the right to end a lease early on documentation.

Attempting to evict without just cause or proper notice fails in Landlord and Tenant Court; retaliatory or self-help evictions expose the housing provider to injunctive relief, actual damages, and statutory penalties under the Rental Housing Act.