Source: https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/sections/42-3505.01.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 14:16:21+00:00

Document:
D.C. Law Library - § 42–3505.01. Evictions.
Subchapter V. Evictions; Retaliatory Action; and Other Matters.
(a) Except as provided in this section, 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 to which the housing provider is entitled for the rental unit; provided, that the nonpayment of a late fee shall not be the basis for an eviction. No tenant shall be evicted from a rental unit for any reason other than for nonpayment of rent unless the tenant has been served with a written notice to vacate which meets the requirements of this section. Notices to vacate for all reasons other than for nonpayment of rent shall be served upon both the tenant and the Rent Administrator. All notices to vacate shall contain a statement detailing the reasons for the eviction, and if the housing accommodation is required to be registered by this chapter, a statement that the housing accommodation is registered with the Rent Administrator.
(b) A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit where the tenant is violating an obligation of tenancy and fails to correct the violation within 30 days after receiving from the housing provider a notice to correct the violation or vacate.
(c) A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit where a court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the tenant, or a person occupying the premises with or in addition to the tenant, has performed an illegal act within the rental unit or the housing accommodation. The housing provider shall serve on the tenant a 30-day notice to vacate. The tenant may be evicted only if the tenant knew or should have known that an illegal act was taking place.
(c-1)(1) It shall be a defense to an action for possession under subsections (b) or (c) of this section that the tenant is a victim, or is the parent or guardian of a minor victim, of an intrafamily offense or actions relating to an intrafamily offense, as defined in § 16-1001(8), if the Court determines that the intrafamily offense, or actions relating to the intrafamily offense, are the basis for the notice to vacate.
(2) If, as a result of the intrafamily offense or the actions relating to the intrafamily offense that is the basis for the notice to vacate, the tenant has received a temporary or civil protection order ordering the respondent to vacate the home, the court shall not enter a judgment for possession.
(3) If, as a result of the intrafamily offense or the actions relating to the intrafamily offense that is the basis for the notice to vacate, the tenant provides to the court a copy of a police report written within the preceding 60 days or has filed for but has not received a temporary or civil protection order ordering the respondent to vacate the home, the court shall have the discretion not to enter a judgment for possession under this subchapter.
(d) A natural person with a freehold interest in the rental unit may recover possession of a rental unit where the person seeks in good faith to recover possession of the rental unit for the person’s immediate and personal use and occupancy as a dwelling. The housing provider shall serve on the tenant a 90-day notice to vacate in advance of action to recover possession of the rental unit in instances arising under this subsection. No housing provider shall demand or receive rent for any rental unit which the housing provider has repossessed under this subsection during the 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit. A stockholder of a cooperative housing association with a right of possession in a rental unit may exercise the rights of a natural person with a freehold interest under this subsection.
(e) A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit where the housing provider has in good faith contracted in writing to sell the rental unit or the housing accommodation in which the unit is located for the immediate and personal use and occupancy by another person, so long as the housing provider has notified the tenant in writing of the tenant’s right and opportunity to purchase as provided in Chapter 34 of this title. The housing provider shall serve on the tenant a 90-day notice to vacate in advance of the housing provider’s action to recover possession of the rental unit. No person shall demand or receive rent for any rental unit which has been repossessed under this subsection during the 12-month period beginning on the date on which the rental unit was originally repossessed by the housing provider.
(III) That the proposal is in the interest of each affected tenant after considering the physical condition of the rental unit or the housing accommodation and the overall impact of relocation on the tenant.
(V) A list of tenants with their current addresses and telephone numbers.
(iii) Include a copy of the notice issued by the Chief Tenant Advocate pursuant to paragraph (1)(C)(iii)(II) of this subsection.
(E) Within 5 days of the completion of alterations and renovations, the housing provider shall provide notice, by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the tenant, the Rent Administrator, and the Chief Tenant Advocate that the rental unit is ready to be occupied by the tenant.
(F) Any notice required by this section to be issued to the tenant by the housing provider, the Rent Administrator, or the Chief Tenant Advocate shall be published in the languages as would be required by § 2-1933(a).
(2) Immediately upon completion of the proposed alterations or renovations, the tenant shall have the absolute right to reoccupy the rental unit. A tenant displaced by actions under this subsection shall continue to be a tenant of the rental unit as defined in § 42-3401.03(17), for purposes of rights and remedies under Chapter 34 of this title, until the tenant has waived his or her rights in writing. Until the tenant’s right to reoccupy the rental unit has terminated, the housing provider shall serve on the tenant any notice or other document regarding the rental unit as required by any provision of Chapter 34 of this title, this chapter, or any other law or regulation, except that service shall be made by first-class mail at the address identified as the tenant’s interim address pursuant to paragraph (1)(C)(iii) of this subsection.
(3) Where the renovations or alterations are necessary to bring the rental unit into substantial compliance with the housing regulations, the tenant may rerent at the same rent and under the same obligations that were in effect at the time the tenant was dispossessed, if the renovations or alterations were not made necessary by the negligent or malicious conduct of the tenant.
(4) Tenants displaced by actions under this subsection shall be entitled to receive relocation assistance as set forth in subchapter VII of this chapter, if the tenants meet the eligibility criteria of that subchapter.
(5) Prior to the date that the tenant vacates the unit, the Rent Administrator shall rescind the approval of any application under this subsection upon determining that the housing provider has not complied with this subsection.
(6) If, after the tenant has vacated the unit, the housing provider fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection, the aggrieved tenant or a tenant organization authorized by the tenant may seek enforcement of any right or provision under this subsection by an action in law or equity. If the aggrieved tenant or tenant organization prevails, the aggrieved tenant or tenant organization shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees. In an equitable action, bond requirements shall be waived to the extent permissible under law or court rule.
(g)(1) A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit for the purpose of immediately demolishing the housing accommodation in which the rental unit is located and replacing it with new construction, if a copy of the demolition permit has been filed with the Rent Administrator, and, if the requirements of subchapter VII of this chapter have been met. The housing provider shall serve on the tenant a 180-day notice to vacate in advance of action to recover possession of the rental unit. The notice to vacate shall comply with and notify the tenant of the tenant’s right to relocation assistance under the provisions of subchapter VII of this chapter.
(2) Tenants displaced by actions under this subsection shall be entitled to receive relocation assistance as set forth in subchapter VII of this chapter, if the tenants meet the eligibility criteria of that subchapter.
(h)(1) A housing provider may recover possession of a rental unit for the purpose of immediate, substantial rehabilitation of the housing accommodation if the requirements of § 42-3502.14 and subchapter VII of this chapter have been met. The housing provider shall serve on the tenant a 120-day notice to vacate in advance of his or her action to recover possession of the rental unit. The notice to vacate shall comply with and notify the tenant of the tenant’s right to relocation assistance under subchapter VII of this chapter.
(2) Any tenant displaced from a rental unit by the substantial rehabilitation of the housing accommodation in which the rental unit is located shall have a right to rerent the rental unit immediately upon the completion of the substantial rehabilitation.
(3) Tenants displaced by actions under this subsection shall be entitled to receive relocation assistance as set forth in subchapter VII of this chapter, if the tenants meet the eligibility criteria of that subchapter.
(H) The housing provider shall not demand or receive rent for any rental unit which the housing provider has repossessed under this subsection for a 12-month period beginning on the date the housing provider recovered possession of the rental unit.
(j) In any case where the housing provider seeks to recover possession of a rental unit or housing accommodation to convert the rental unit or housing accommodation to a condominium or cooperative, notice to vacate shall be given according to § 42-3402.06(c).
(2) When precipitation is falling at the location of the rental unit.
(3) Where a court of competent jurisdiction has made a specific finding that the tenant has abandoned the premises.
(m) This section shall not apply to privately-owned rental housing or housing owned by the federal or District government with regard to drug-related evictions under subchapter I of Chapter 36 of this title.
(n)(1) If the occupancy of a tenant has been or will be terminated by a placard placed by the District government in accordance with section 103 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations for violations of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations that threaten the life, health, or safety of the tenant, the tenancy shall not be deemed terminated until the unit has been offered for reoccupation to the tenant after the date that physical occupancy ceased.
(2) The Mayor shall maintain a registry of the persons, including their subsequent interim addresses, who were tenants at the time the building was placarded.
(3) At the time of the placarding, the Mayor shall provide a written notice to the tenants of the right to maintain their tenancy and the need to keep the Mayor informed of interim addresses. The notice shall contain the address and telephone number of the office maintaining the registry.
(4) Any notice required under this subchapter shall be effective when sent to the tenant at the address maintained in the registry.
This section is referenced in § 8-231.03, § 42-2857.01, § 42-3401.04, § 42-3402.02, § 42-3507.01, § 42-3507.02, § 42-3509.02, and § 42-3602.
D.C. Law 13-172 added subsec. (l).
D.C. Law 13-281 added subsec. (n).
D.C. Law 14-213, in subsec. (n), validated a previously made technical correction.
D.C. Law 16-140, added pars. (f)(5) and (f)(6) and rewrote pars. (f)(1) and (f)(2).
D.C. Law 16-273 added subsec. (c-1).
D.C. Law 17-146 added subsecs. (o) and (p).
D.C. Law 17-353 validated a previously made technical correction in subsec. (p).
D.C. Law 17-368, in subsec. (c-1)(1), substituted “§ 16-1001(8)” for “§ 16-1001(5)”.
Housing accommodation conversion prerequisites and exemptions, persons with standing, see § 42-3402.02.
Section 12(b) of D.C. Law 8-139 provided that the act shall expire 10 years after the effective date of the act. D.C. Law 8-139 became effective on June 13, 1990.
For temporary (90 days) amendment to the Federal Worker Housing Relief Emergency Act of 2019 (Act 23-5), see § 3 of Supporting Essential Workers Unemployment Insurance Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-14, Feb. 25, 2019, 66 DCR 2469).
For temporary (90 days) exemption of the initial procurement contract entered into in connection with the Sports Wagering Lottery Amendment Act of 2018 and the Sports Wagering Lottery Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 from the requirements of the Procurement Practices Reform Act of 2010, see § 2 of Sports Wagering Procurement Practices Reform Exemption Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-6, Feb. 22, 2019, 66 DCR 2449).
For temporary (90 days) enactment of the Federal Worker Housing Relief Emergency Act of 2019, see § 2 of Federal Worker Housing Relief Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-5, Feb. 6, 2019, 66 DCR 2059).
For temporary (90 days) law regarding landlord procedures during an eviction not subject to the Rental Housing Act of 1985, see § 3 of Eviction Procedure Reform Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-510, Nov. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 12375).
For temporary (90 days) creation of §42-3505.01a, see § 2(b) of Eviction Procedure Reform Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-510, Nov. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 12375).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Eviction Procedure Reform Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-510, Nov. 3, 2018, 65 DCR 12375).
For temporary (90 days) law regarding landlord procedures during an eviction not subject to the Rental Housing Act of 1985, see § 3 of Eviction Procedure Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-426, July 26, 2018, 65 DCR 7985).
For temporary (90 days) creation of § 42-3505.01a, see § 2(b) of Eviction Procedure Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-426, July 26, 2018, 65 DCR 7985).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Eviction Procedure Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-426, July 26, 2018, 65 DCR 7985).
For temporary (90 days) law regarding landlord procedures during non-residential evictions, see § 3 of Eviction Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-425, July 24, 2018, 65 DCR 7709).
For temporary (90 days) creation of § 42-3505.01a, see § 2(b) of Eviction Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-425, July 24, 2018, 65 DCR 7709).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Eviction Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-425, July 24, 2018, 65 DCR 7709).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7045 of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-167, Oct. 24, 2017, 64 DCR 10802).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 7045 of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-104, July 20, 2017, 64 DCR 7032).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2 of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 Winter of 1994 Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-179, January 25, 1994, 41 DCR 520).
For temporary repeal of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 Freezing Temperature Emergency Amendment Act of 1993, effective December 16, 1993 (D.C. Act 10-161; 40 DCR 8874), see § 3 of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 Winter of 1994 Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-179, January 25, 1994, 41 DCR 520).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 3 of the Drug House Abatement Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-446, December 5, 1996, 43 DCR 6664).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4 of the Real Property Tax Reassessment Second Emergency Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-244, January 13, 1998, 45 DCR 652).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4 of the Real Property Tax Reassessment Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-293, February 27, 1998, 45 DCR 1758).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4 of the Real Property Tax Reassessment and Cold Weather Eviction Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-18, February 17, 1999, 46 DCR 2354).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 2 of the Tenant Protection Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-328, May 9, 2000, 47 DCR 4347).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 1312 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-376, July 24, 2000, 47 DCR 6574).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 2 of the Tenant Protection Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-411, August 14, 2000, 47 DCR 7285).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 1312 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-438, October 20, 2000, 47 DCR 8740).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Tenant Evictions Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-244, December 22, 2005, 53 DCR 268).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Tenant Evictions Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-327, March 23, 2006, 53 DCR 2582).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2182, 7039 of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 2182, 7039 of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).
For temporary (225 days) law regarding landlord procedures during an eviction not subject to the Rental Housing Act of 1985, see § 3 of Eviction Procedure Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-183, Nov. 27, 2018, 65 DCR 11372).
For temporary (225 days) creation of § 42-3505.01a, see § 2(b) of Eviction Procedure Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-183, Nov. 27, 2018, 65 DCR 11372).
For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Eviction Procedure Reform Temporary Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-183, Nov. 27, 2018, 65 DCR 11372).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Rental Housing Act of 1985 Frigid Temperature Temporary Amendment Act of 1993 (D.C. Law 10-2, May 14, 1993, law notification 40 DCR 3403).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 4 of Real Property Tax Reassessment Temporary Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Law 12-125, June 10, 1998, law notification 45 DCR 5883).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 4 of Real Property Tax Reassessment and Cold Weather Eviction Temporary Act of 1999 (D.C. Law 13-1, May 20, 1999, law notification 46 DCR 5301).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Tenant Protection Temporary Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-158, September 16, 2000, law notification 47 DCR 8064).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Tenant Evictions Temporary Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Law 16-76, April 4, 2006, law notification 53 DCR 3335).
Subsection (o)(2), added by Law 17-146 states that this subsection shall not apply until its fiscal effect is included in an approved budget and financial plan.
The Budget Director of the Council of the District of Columbia has determined, as of February 15, 2012, that the fiscal effect of subsection (o)(2), added by Law 17-146, has not been included in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore, the provisions of subsection (o), enacted by Law 17-146, are not in effect.

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