Source: http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all
Timestamp: 2016-10-23 22:14:40
Document Index: 368019796

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 16', '§ 42', '§ 2', '§ 42', '§ 42', '§ 42', '§ 2']

WomensLaw.org | District of Columbia: Housing Laws | En Español	Internet Security | Leave This Site Quickly
http://www.womenslaw.org//laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=enAdd Link to Email	There are laws in Washington, D.C. that offer housing-related protection to victims of domestic violence. There are laws in Washington, D.C. that offer housing-related protection to victims of domestic violence. http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=enAdd Link to EmailAdd Text to Email Please Log in to SPS to create custom email contentBasic infoWho is protected under this housing law?My landlord is trying to evict me because of a domestic violence incident in my apartment. What are my rights?I tried to rent / buy property and I was turned down because I am a domestic violence victim. Is this legal?Breaking your lease / Moving outI am afraid to stay in my apartment. How can I get out of my lease if I am a domestic violence victim?Once I notify my landlord that I want to terminate my lease, when can I stop paying rent?Building safety and securityAs a victim of a domestic violence incident, can I get my landlord to change my locks?I asked my landlord to improve security in my building to help keep me safe and s/he refused. What are my rights?Additional info and resourcesI still have questions about this housing law and if it applies to me. Where can I go for help?Basic infoback to topWho is protected under this housing law?There is a housing law in Washington, D.C. that offers housing-related protection to victims of domestic violence. The law includes protections from eviction and the right to break your lease in certain situations. It also gives you the right to get safety improvements in your apartment and building. This law does not include protection for an eviction case brought against you for not paying your rent.
You may be able to get protection if: * You are related to the abuser by blood, legal custody, marriage, or domestic partnership; or
* You have a child in common with the abuser; or
* You live with or have lived with the abuser; or
* You have or had a romantic relationship* with the abuser AND you currently live in D.C. OR the domestic violence incident happened in D.C.; or
* You are or were the spouse/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend of someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, you can be protected under this housing law if the abuser does something to you that is causing you to be taken to court by your landlord for eviction (for example, if you are the boyfriend of a victim and her ex-husband attacks you, you could qualify for protection under this law)
* You are or were stalked [/statutes_detail.php?statute_id=2327#statute-top] by the abuser.**
** D.C. Code § 16-1001(5)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12319Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
back to topMy landlord is trying to evict me because of a domestic violence incident in my apartment. What are my rights?You can be protected from eviction if:
You can be protected from eviction if: * you (or your minor child) are the victim of domestic violence; AND
* the judge determines that the domestic violence is the reason for the eviction case against you.*
*** D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(c-1)(3)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12321Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
back to topI tried to rent / buy property and I was turned down because I am a domestic violence victim. Is this legal?No. It is illegal for anyone to discriminate against you due to the fact that you are a current or former domestic violence victim. The following are some examples of the actions that are illegal:
No. It is illegal for anyone to discriminate against you due to the fact that you are a current or former domestic violence victim. The following are some examples of the actions that are illegal: * interrupting, terminating, or refusing to start or continue any real estate transaction;
* requiring different terms, conditions or restrictions for a real estate transaction;
* falsely representing that a house or apartment is not available;
* refusing to lend money, guarantee a loan, provide title insurance, etc. or to place different conditions on you when doing these actions;
* refusing or restricting services, facilities, repairs or improvements for a tenant.*
* D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(a)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12332Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
Breaking your lease / Moving outback to topI am afraid to stay in my apartment. How can I get out of my lease if I am a domestic violence victim?If you are the tenant and you are a victim (or the parent/guardian of a victim) of domestic violence, there are two steps to getting out of your lease:
You may also want to check out our Staying Safe [/simple.php?sitemap_id=3] page for more information and ideas on how to keep yourself and your family safe.
*** D.C. Code § 42-3505.07(d) & (e)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12325Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
back to topOnce I notify my landlord that I want to terminate my lease, when can I stop paying rent?You still have to pay the rent until the lease termination becomes effective. How quickly it becomes effective depends, in part, on you. If you carefully follow the steps described in I am afraid to stay in my apartment. How can I get out of my lease if I am a domestic violence victim?, the lease would end as soon as (whichever happens first):
You still have to pay the rent until the lease termination becomes effective. How quickly it becomes effective depends, in part, on you. If you carefully follow the steps described in I am afraid to stay in my apartment. How can I get out of my lease if I am a domestic violence victim? [/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all#content-12325], the lease would end as soon as (whichever happens first): * the landlord re-rents the apartment to a new tenant or to someone who has the right to your apartment under the lease (such as your adult child who lived with you) OR
* fourteen days after you give the landlord: * written notice of the lease termination ordered by the judge AND
* a copy of the permanent protective order or the signed documentation from one of the following people: a law enforcement officer, a domestic violence counselor, a health professional, the D.C. Housing Authority Office, or a D.C. Public Safety Officer.*
* D.C. Code § 42-3505.07(d) & (f)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12326Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
Building safety and securityback to topAs a victim of a domestic violence incident, can I get my landlord to change my locks?Yes, but you may have to pay for it.
See our Staying Safe [/simple.php?sitemap_id=3] page for more information and ideas on how to keep yourself and your family safe.
** D.C. Code § 42-3505.08(b)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12328Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
back to topI asked my landlord to improve security in my building to help keep me safe and s/he refused. What are my rights?If you ask your landlord to do something that would restore or improve security to keep you safe from the abuser, the landlord cannot refuse to do it based on the fact that you are a victim of domestic violence. However, you might have to pay for the security improvement.
The following are some examples of security improvements that you might want to ask your landlord for: * bars on your windows
* a more secure lock on the front door/entrance to the building
* better lighting in the building hallway
* D.C. Code § 2-1402.21(f)http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12329Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
Additional info and resourcesback to topI still have questions about this housing law and if it applies to me. Where can I go for help?If you are not a victim of domestic violence, but have questions about your housing rights, you may be able to find more information on an anti-discrimination law, the Fair Housing Act here.
If you are not sure if you are a victim of domestic violence, see What is the legal definition of domestic violence in D.C.? If you have read through the information above and still have questions, these resources, which provide legal assistance in landlord/tenant matters might be able to help:
If you are not a victim of domestic violence, but have questions about your housing rights, you may be able to find more information on an anti-discrimination law, the Fair Housing Act here [http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/housing_coverage.php].
If you are not sure if you are a victim of domestic violence, see What is the legal definition of domestic violence in D.C.? [/laws_state_type.php?id=10741&state_code=DC#content-10768] If you have read through the information above and still have questions, these resources, which provide legal assistance in landlord/tenant matters might be able to help:
Bread for the City [http://www.breadforthecity.org/services/legal-clinic/]
D.C. Law Students in Court [http://dclawstudents.org/forclients.htm]
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia [http://www.legalaiddc.org]
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless [http://www.legalclinic.org]
202-328-5500http://www.womenslaw.org/laws_state_type.php?id=12235&state_code=DC&open_id=all〈=en#content-12334Add Link to EmailAdd Text to Email
WomensLaw.org would like to thank Larisa Kofman, former Policy Director at the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence, for providing information and guidance on this material. back to top