District of Columbia tenant rights

What should I do if I get an eviction notice in District of Columbia?

Treat it as time-sensitive, not as an eviction. A landlord notice in District of Columbia is usually a step before a court case — not a judgment and not a lockout. If the paper names a court, a case number, or a date to appear, a case has been filed and a response window is running. Write down when and how it arrived, keep the original, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. How long the notice runs is in District of Columbia residential tenancy statutes, not in a national chart.

How do security deposits work in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia residential tenancy statutes is where District of Columbia sets whether there is a cap, what may be deducted, and how long a landlord has to return what is left. Those figures change, and reprinting a stale number is how people miss a window. Document the unit at move-in and move-out, return keys the way the lease requires, keep a forwarding address, then read the chapter or take the file to legal aid.

What if my landlord will not make repairs in District of Columbia?

Most states, including District of Columbia, expect a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in. The exact process — written notice, a waiting period, repair-and-deduct, escrow, or a code complaint — is a District of Columbia question, and withholding rent without checking is one of the highest-risk moves a renter can make. Put the request in writing, date it, photograph the condition, and ask legal aid before you skip a payment.

Can my landlord enter without notice in District of Columbia?

Entry rules in District of Columbia are in District of Columbia residential tenancy statutes, and they often differ for emergencies, repairs, and showings. This site does not invent a national hour-count. If an entry felt improper, write down the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance — then confirm the statute or ask legal aid.

Does my city in District of Columbia add extra renter rules?

Often. Rent stabilization, just-cause eviction, relocation assistance, and extra protected classes are usually local. District of Columbia state law is the floor, not the whole answer. Check your city housing department or rent board in addition to the sources on this page.

Where is free legal help in District of Columbia?

LawHelp.org routes District of Columbia renters to nonprofit legal-aid offices. Dial 211 for local rent, shelter, or utility help in many languages. If you have court papers, call legal aid the same day and ask about walk-in or self-help hours at the courthouse. Those resources are free and are never behind a sign-up on this site.

Is DC rent-controlled?

Many District units fall under rent stabilization administered by DHCD. Coverage is a unit question. The Office of Tenant Advocate is a local door. Maryland or Virginia rules do not apply.

Where are DC possession cases heard?

Superior Court of the District of Columbia. A notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid. 311 and DHCD are City doors, not the court.

What we will not guess

Honest routing to official sources — we do not guess at unpublished rules.

District of Columbia residential tenancy statutes (D.C. Code §§ 42-3201 to 42-3651.08) is the chapter to open. We name it. We do not paraphrase a number out of it.

Official sources

District of Columbia city desks

City ordinances sit on top of District of Columbia law. Each desk names the local office and the court. We do not invent a local deadline.

• Washington, DCDC law is the whole local stack. Neighboring Maryland and Virginia counties are different jurisdictions.

Questions on this desk

• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?
• What number should I call right now?
• Is there a national tenant-rights law in the United States?
• What should I do if I get an eviction notice?
• How do I find free legal help as a renter?
• Can my landlord enter without notice?

Common questions