D.C. Code tit. 16 § 16-1110
Recovery, by landlord, of furniture, arrears in rent, and damages; separate counts.
Operative Text
(a) In an action in ejectment against his tenant, a landlord may embody in his complaint, in separate counts, claims for: (1) furniture, if leased with the realty; (2) arrears of rent due at the termination of the tenancy; (3) double rent in cases authorized by this Code from the termination of the tenancy to the verdict for possession; and (4) damages for waste or injury to the premises or furniture during the defendant’s occupancy of the premises and before commencement of the action. (b) If the jury find for the landlord, they may, at the same time, find the amounts due for arrears of rent and for double rent and for damages, as provided by subsection (a) of this section, and judgment shall be rendered accordingly.
Under D.C. Code §§ 16-1102, 16-1110, 16-1111, and 16-1124, when a landlord brings an ejectment action to recover possession of a property, the law permits that single lawsuit to bundle several related financial claims together in separate counts. Those claims can include recovery of leased furniture, unpaid rent that accrued before the tenancy ended, double rent for the period between the tenancy's termination and a jury verdict for possession (where the Code authorizes it), and compensation for waste or damage to the premises or furniture during the tenant's occupancy. If the jury rules in the landlord's favor on possession, it may simultaneously determine the dollar amounts owed on each of those financial claims, and the court then enters a single consolidated judgment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers pursuing ejectment proceedings in the District of Columbia should be aware that D.C. Code §§ 16-1102, 16-1110, 16-1111, and 16-1124 allow all related monetary claims—unpaid rent, double rent where applicable, furniture recovery, and damages for waste—to be pleaded as separate counts within the same ejectment complaint rather than in a separate lawsuit. Compliant operators typically document rent ledgers, the condition of the premises at move-in and throughout the tenancy, and any furniture included in the lease so that each count can be supported with evidence at trial. Keeping thorough records of the tenancy's termination date is also important, since the double-rent calculation runs from that date to the jury's verdict for possession.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who are defendants in an ejectment action in the District of Columbia should understand that, under D.C. Code §§ 16-1102, 16-1110, 16-1111, and 16-1124, a landlord's complaint may seek not only possession but also money judgments for rent arrears, double rent, and alleged property damage all in the same proceeding. Because a jury can award these financial amounts at the same time it decides the possession question, a tenant facing such a complaint has an interest in presenting evidence on each count—for example, disputing the claimed arrears amount or the extent of any alleged damage. Tenants in this situation may benefit from contacting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. landlord-tenant law to understand the full scope of the claims being made against them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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