D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3402.10
Exceptions to coverage of subchapter; expiration provisions.
Operative Text
(a) This subchapter shall remain in effect until the Mayor declares that a housing crisis no longer exists pursuant to § 42-3405.12 . (b) The rights granted under § 42-3402.08 to eligible elderly and disabled tenants shall not be abrogated or reduced notwithstanding such a declaration by the Mayor. (c) (1) A housing provider shall not unreasonably interfere with the tenant’s comfort, safety, or enjoyment of a rental unit, or engage in retaliatory action under § 42-3505.02 , for the purpose of causing a housing accommodation to become vacant. (2) For the purposes of this subsection, the terms “unreasonable interference” or “retaliatory action” may include: (A) The knowing circulation of inaccurate information; (B) Frequent visits or calls over the objection of the household; (C) The threat of retaliatory action; (D) An act or threat not otherwise permitted by law to recover possession of a rental unit, increase rent, decrease services, increase the obligation of a tenant or cause undue or avoidable inconvenience, harass or violate the privacy of the household, reduce the quality or quantity of service, refuse to honor a lease, rental agreement, or any provision of a lease or rental agreement, refuse to renew a lease or rental agreement, or terminate a tenancy without legal cause; or (E) Any other form of threat or coercion. (d) (1) The provisions of this subchapter shall not apply to the conversion of housing accommodations into condominium or cooperative status that are fully vacant as of the date of application to the Mayor for a vacancy exemption; provided, that this exemption shall not apply to: (A) § 42-3402.04 ; or (B) Any violation of subsection (c) of this section. (2) The Mayor shall make such inquiries as the Mayor considers appropriate to determine whether the vacating of each unit was voluntary. (3) If the Mayor determines that the vacating of any unit was not voluntary, the Mayor shall disapprove or rescind the approval of the application for exemption. (4) All vacancy exemptions shall expire after 180 days; provided, that vacancy exemptions in effect on March 25, 2009, shall expire 180 days after March 25, 2009. (e) The Mayor may impose civil fines, penalties, and fees for any infraction of the provisions of this section, or any rules issued under the authority of this section pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2 [§ 2-1801 et seq.]. Adjudication of any infraction of this chapter shall be pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 2 [§ 2-1801 et seq.].
D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3402.10 establishes that the District's tenant-opportunity-to-purchase protections remain in force until the Mayor formally declares a housing crisis has ended, and even then, special rights for eligible elderly and disabled tenants are preserved. The provision prohibits housing providers from interfering with a tenant's comfort, safety, or enjoyment of a rental unit—or taking retaliatory action—in order to push a unit vacant, listing specific examples such as spreading false information, unwanted repeated contact, and threats or coercion. Fully vacant buildings may qualify for an exemption from the subchapter's conversion rules, but that exemption expires after 180 days and cannot be used to shield a landlord from anti-harassment violations. Civil fines and penalties may be imposed for infractions under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing providers operating under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3402.10 are expected to avoid any conduct that could be characterized as pressuring tenants to vacate, including making repeated unwanted contact, circulating false information, or threatening actions not otherwise permitted by law. Operators seeking a vacancy exemption for condominium or cooperative conversion should be aware that the Mayor is authorized to investigate whether each unit was vacated voluntarily, and any exemption granted expires after 180 days. Compliant operators document their interactions with tenants carefully and refrain from any act or omission that could constitute harassment or retaliation, since civil fines and penalties are available for infractions of this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3402.10 gives tenants explicit protection against a housing provider's efforts to force them out through harassment, threats, false information, or other coercive conduct, and these protections apply even if the Mayor later declares the housing crisis over—with additional permanent protections for eligible elderly and disabled tenants. Tenants who believe a landlord is engaging in unreasonable interference or retaliatory action to cause a vacancy may have grounds to raise that conduct as a violation of this provision, including in proceedings where a landlord seeks a vacancy exemption for conversion to condominium or cooperative status. Tenant-rights organizations in the District and the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate can provide information about complaint processes and available remedies under this section.
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
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation