D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3211
Action in ejectment — Claims for arrears of rent, double rent, and waste; jurisdiction of court; money judgment.
Operative Text
In either case the landlord may join with his claim for recovery of the possession of the leased premises a claim for all arrears of rent accrued to the termination of the tenancy, and, when the tenant has given the notice, for double rent from the termination of the tenancy to the verdict, or judgment, if the trial be by the court and for damages for waste; provided, that in such action before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia the amount so claimed shall be within its jurisdiction. If judgment for possession be rendered in favor of the plaintiff, he shall be entitled, at the same time, to a judgment for said arrears of rent, and for said double rent, as the case may be, to the date of the verdict or judgment as aforesaid, and for damages for waste.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3211, a landlord pursuing an ejectment action in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia may combine a claim for possession with claims for unpaid rent that accumulated before the tenancy ended, damages for waste to the property, and — when the tenant gave the notice to vacate — double rent for the period between the tenancy's termination and the court's verdict or judgment. If the court rules in the landlord's favor on possession, it may simultaneously enter a money judgment covering all of those combined claims, provided the total amount falls within the court's jurisdictional limits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3211 allows a single ejectment action to consolidate a possession claim with claims for accrued rent arrears, property waste damages, and potentially double rent. Compliant operators typically document all unpaid rent, the date the tenancy terminated, and any property damage carefully so these amounts can be presented to the Superior Court in one proceeding. Because the double-rent remedy applies specifically when the tenant gave the notice to quit, operators generally track which party initiated the termination notice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3211 means that if a landlord files an ejectment case against a tenant, the landlord can seek not only possession but also a money judgment for back rent, waste damages, and — if the tenant gave the termination notice — double rent running until the verdict. Tenants facing such a combined claim may have defenses related to the accuracy of the rent arrears calculation, the condition of the property, or which party actually gave notice, and those defenses can be raised within the same court proceeding. Tenants in this situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. housing law to understand the full range of options available under this provision.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation