D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3231
Grants of remainders, reversions, and rents good without attornment; payment of rent to grantor without notice valid.
Operative Text
All grants or conveyances of any manors or rents, or of the reversion or remainder of any messuages or lands, shall be good and effectual, to all intents and purposes, without any attornment of the tenants of any such manors, or of the land out of which rent shall be issuing, or of the particular tenants upon whose particular estates any such reversions or remainders shall and may be expectant or depending, as if their attornment had been had and made; provided, nevertheless, that no such tenant shall be prejudiced or damaged by payment of any rent to any such grantor or conusor, or by breach of any condition for nonpayment of rent, before notice shall be given to him of such grant by the conusee or grantee.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3231, when a landlord transfers ownership of a property, its rents, or its future interest (such as a reversion or remainder) to a new owner, that transfer is legally valid and fully effective without requiring the tenant to formally acknowledge or consent to the new ownership — a historical act known as 'attornment.' However, the provision also protects tenants by ensuring that any rent paid to the original owner, or any lease condition triggered by nonpayment, cannot be held against a tenant until that tenant has received actual notice of the ownership transfer from the new owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3231 should understand that when a property or its associated rents are conveyed to a new owner, the transfer takes effect automatically without requiring tenants to sign off on it. Compliant operators in this situation typically provide prompt written notice to tenants identifying the new grantee or owner so that future rent payments are directed correctly. Failing to give such notice means a tenant who continues paying the prior owner cannot be penalized for that payment or for any related lease condition tied to nonpayment.
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. § 42-3231 provides an important protection: if your landlord sells or transfers the property — including the right to collect rent — you cannot be penalized for continuing to pay rent to the original owner until you have received actual notice of the transfer from the new owner. This means that a breach-of-lease claim based on nonpayment generally cannot be enforced against you for the period before you were notified. Tenants who believe this protection is being disregarded may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review their options with a housing attorney.
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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