D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3405.03
Civil cause of action.
Operative Text
(a) An aggrieved owner, tenant, or tenant organization may seek enforcement of any right or provision under this chapter through a civil action in law or equity, and, upon prevailing, may seek an award of costs and reasonable attorney fees. In an equitable action, the public policy of this chapter favors the waiver of bond requirements to the extent permissible under law or court rule. (b) Any person suffering a loss due to violations of § 42-3404.16 shall be entitled to recover, in addition to the amount of actual damages, double the amount of any interest collected in violation of this chapter , plus any reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in the collection of that amount.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3405.03, any owner, tenant, or tenant organization that has been harmed by a violation of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) or related provisions may bring a civil lawsuit seeking legal or equitable relief. If the party bringing the action prevails, the court may award costs and reasonable attorney fees. For violations specifically involving unlawful interest collection under § 42-3404.16, the law provides for recovery of actual damages plus double the amount of any improperly collected interest, along with reasonable attorney fees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3405.03 should be aware that both tenants and tenant organizations have a direct path to civil court to enforce their rights under this chapter. Compliant operators generally ensure that any interest collected in connection with transactions covered by § 42-3404.16 strictly conforms to the chapter's requirements, since violations can expose them to doubled damages plus attorney fees. Maintaining thorough documentation of all financial transactions and notices related to tenant purchase rights is a practice commonly associated with compliance.
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. § 42-3405.03 gives tenants and tenant organizations the right to file a civil lawsuit—in either law or equity—to enforce any right protected under this chapter, with the possibility of recovering costs and attorney fees if they prevail. Tenants who have suffered losses due to unlawful interest collection under § 42-3404.16 may be entitled to actual damages plus double the improperly collected interest amount. General enforcement paths available to tenants include filing a civil action, consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with TOPA, or seeking guidance from a legal aid provider about the options that may apply 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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation