Housing (Renters)

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature May 1, 2026

B 26-0177: Extreme Heat Eviction Protection Amendment Act of 2025

This bill prohibits landlords in Washington, D.C., from filing or proceeding with tenant evictions on any day when the National Weather Service predicts temperatures at the National Airport station will exceed 95°F (35°C) by 8 a.m. It directly affects D.C. renters and landlords by adding a new exception to eviction proceedings during extreme heat events. The key provision requires the National Weather Service's 8 a.m. forecast for the airport location to trigger the eviction pause. The amendment updates the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to include this temperature-based protection, effective after standard legislative approval processes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents evictions during extreme heat, directly protecting tenants from displacement during hazardous weather events, aligning with tenant protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 23, 2025

B 26-0376: LIHTC Rent Stabilization Exemption Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill clarifies that rental units participating in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program are exempt from the District of Columbia's Rent Stabilization Program. It amends the Rental Housing Act to explicitly include LIHTC units in the exemption, removing ambiguity about their status. This directly affects landlords who receive LIHTC tax credits, ensuring these units are not subject to rent stabilization rules. The change is retroactive to the existing law but takes effect immediately as an emergency measure, remaining valid for 90 days.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingExempts LIHTC units from rent stabilization, weakening tenant protections for affordable housing units.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Mar 30, 2026

B 26-0477: Portable Tenant Screening Report Amendment Act of 2025

The Portable Tenant Screening Report Amendment Act of 2025 (B 26-0477) requires District of Columbia housing providers to accept a single tenant screening report for 30 days when renting to prospective tenants, eliminating repeated application fees. The report must include name/contact info, credit history, current address, rental history, and eviction records, and must be provided at no cost to the tenant. This directly affects renters - especially low- and moderate-income residents - who currently pay multiple fees for similar screenings - and housing providers who must accept the reusable report instead of charging new fees. The bill prohibits housing providers from charging application fees or additional costs for using the report and bars them from denying applications based solely on the report's age.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEliminates repeated tenant screening fees, reducing costs for low/mid-income renters and strengthening tenant protections per bill's no-cost report requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

Track

died · District of Columbia · Legislature Jan 7, 2026

B 26-0359: Tenant Buyout Agreement Transparency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill requires property owners to provide tenants with a written disclosure notice before making a buyout offer, explaining tenant rights and agreement terms in the tenant's primary language. It mandates that buyout offers be at least equal to relocation assistance payments under current law (Section 703(b) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985) and the same for comparable tenants, with a maximum payment set by the Rental Housing Commission based on household size and unit rent. Buyout agreements must be in writing, include a clear statement about the tenant's right to decline, and be filed with the Department of Housing and Community Development within 60 days. These provisions aim to prevent exploitation by standardizing negotiations and ensuring transparency in tenant buyout transactions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates transparent buyout disclosures and fair compensation, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 28, 2025

B 26-0070: Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2025

This bill removes an exemption that previously allowed rental units occupied by tenants using tenant-based subsidies (like housing vouchers) to be excluded from rent stabilization rules. It requires housing providers to notify subsidy administrators (e.g., HUD or DC housing agencies) before raising rents, and prohibits agreements that waive rent stabilization requirements. Subsidy administrators gain the right to challenge inappropriate rent increases and cannot deny reasonable increases that comply with the program. These changes directly affect tenants in subsidized housing, housing providers, and subsidy administrators, ensuring rent hikes for these units follow District rent stabilization rules.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves exemption for subsidized units from rent stabilization, requiring notifications and enabling challenges to unjust rent hikes, strengthening tenant protections for affordable housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 17, 2025

PR 26-0326: LIHTC Rent Stabilization Exemption Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution clarifies that Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rental units in DC are exempt from the District’s Rent Stabilization Program, directly affecting 99 buildings housing over 11,000 units. It responds to a court decision that removed this exemption, which could force these properties to comply with DC’s rent rules instead of federal HUD limits (capping annual rent increases at 5% or 10% max). The bill explicitly amends the Rental Housing Act to maintain the existing rent structure agreed upon at lease signing, preserving affordability without raising rents. This prevents potential financial defaults on LIHTC properties and supports ongoing affordable housing preservation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMaintains LIHTC tax credit exemption, preventing higher rent increases under DC rules and protecting federal tax incentive program.95% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill prevents LIHTC units from facing DC's rent stabilization (weaker than HUD limits), weakening tenant protections by maintaining higher federal rent caps instead of stricter local rules.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Feb 14, 2025

PR 26-0045: Certificate of Assurance Moratorium Congressional Review Emergency Declaration of 2025

This resolution declares an emergency to maintain a freeze on new applications for certificates of assurance under DC's rent stabilization laws. It prevents a legal gap between the expiration of an emergency moratorium (February 20, 2025) and the start of a new temporary moratorium (March 6, 2025). The resolution ensures continuous protection for rent-stabilized properties during congressional review of related legislation, without changing the underlying rent stabilization policy.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMaintains rent stabilization moratorium to prevent gaps in tenant protections during congressional review, ensuring continuous rent-stabilized housing protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature May 16, 2025

PR 26-0186: Multiyear Contract Number 2025-LRSP-03A with 2607 Connecticut LLC Approval Resolution of 2025

This resolution approves a 20-year housing subsidy contract for two affordable units at 2607 Connecticut Avenue NW. It authorizes the District of Columbia Housing Authority to provide an annual subsidy of $50,116 to 2607 Connecticut LLC under the Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP). The subsidy supports extremely low-income households (earning 30% or less of the area median income) by allowing the property owner to lease these units at below-market rates. The resolution is procedural, formally endorsing an existing agreement rather than creating new policy.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingApproves $50,116 annual subsidy for 2 affordable units targeting 30% AMI households under LRSP, directly funding affordable housing for extremely low-income tenants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Historic Preservation Housing Finance Renters

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 18, 2025

B 26-0046: Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2025

This bill requires tenants applying for District of Columbia's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide specific documentation of their emergency situation (e.g., job loss or medical costs) to qualify for aid, or submit an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury if documentation isn't possible. It clarifies that an "emergency situation" includes unforeseen events threatening a tenant's ability to pay rent and avoid eviction. For eviction cases, the bill allows courts to stay proceedings when a tenant has a pending ERAP application (instead of mandating a stay) and requires landlords to reschedule evictions by at least three weeks if ERAP is approved to cover unpaid rent. These changes directly affect tenants seeking rental assistance, landlords facing eviction cases, and courts handling housing disputes.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRequires documentation for ERAP eligibility, adding barriers to tenant assistance access and weakening tenant protection efforts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Oct 30, 2025

B 26-0366: Flexible Rent Subsidy Program Amendment Act of 2025

This bill makes the District of Columbia's Flexible Rent Subsidy Pilot Program (DC Flex) permanent, replacing its temporary authorization set to expire in 2026. It provides eligible homeless or at-risk DC residents with a fixed annual subsidy - $9,600 for families and $8,280 for individuals (before October 2027), with higher amounts after that - to cover partial rent payments. The subsidy is deposited into a dedicated escrow account, which participants can only use for rent, not withdrawn as cash. Unlike housing vouchers that cover full rent, DC Flex offers "shallow" partial rent assistance, aiming to prevent homelessness while providing stability.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill makes DC Flex rent subsidy program permanent, providing fixed annual subsidies to homeless/at-risk residents for rent, directly advancing affordable housing and homelessness prevention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Renters Tenant Rights

Track