D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3216
Landlord’s lien for rent — Property subject to lien not to be executed on by another without payment of rent due; when rent in arrears exceeds 3 months.
Operative Text
No goods or chattels whatsoever, lying or being in or upon any messuage, lands, or tenements, which are or shall be leased for life or lives, term of years, at will, or otherwise, shall be liable to be taken by virtue of any execution on any pretence whatsoever, unless the party at whose suit the said execution is sued out, shall before the removal of such goods from off the said premises, by virtue of such execution or extent, pay to the landlord of the said premises, or his bailiff, all such sum or sums of money as are or shall be due for rent for the said premises at the time of the taking such goods or chattels by virtue of such execution; provided, the said arrears of rent do not amount to more than 3 months rent, and in case the said arrears shall exceed 3 months rent, then the said party, at whose suit such execution is sued out, paying the said landlord, or his bailiff, 3 months rent, may proceed to execute his judgment as he might have done before the making of this section; and the marshal is hereby empowered and required to levy and pay to the plaintiff as well the money so paid for rent, as the execution money.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3216, personal property located on leased premises generally cannot be seized through a court-ordered execution unless the creditor first pays any rent owed to the landlord at the time of the seizure. If the unpaid rent is three months or less, the full arrears must be paid before the goods can be removed; if the arrears exceed three months, the creditor need only pay three months' worth of rent to proceed. Any rent amount paid by the creditor on the landlord's behalf can then be recovered as part of the overall judgment the creditor is enforcing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3216 gives landlords a priority claim on rent owed before a judgment creditor can remove a tenant's personal property from the leased premises. Operators who are owed back rent generally notify the executing marshal or the creditor's representative of the outstanding balance so the statutory payment can be made before any goods are taken. Keeping clear, up-to-date rent ledgers helps document the amount due at the moment of any attempted execution.
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. § 42-3216 affects tenants indirectly by limiting how much of their personal property a creditor can seize without first satisfying the landlord's rent claim. Tenants whose belongings are subject to a court execution may want to understand whether the creditor complied with this requirement before goods were removed from the premises. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid offices can help individuals explore whether a procedural violation of this provision may be relevant to their circumstances.
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.
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