D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3505.55
Housing provider's consent before subletting.
Operative Text
A housing provider may, in its sole and absolute discretion, prohibit subletting of the premise or assigning a lease, either in part or in full; provided, that the prohibition is included in the lease. Where the lease provision allows subletting subject to the housing provider's reasonable consent or where the lease is silent regarding subletting, the housing provider may condition its consent on the prospective subtenant meeting all of the housing provider's reasonable rental qualification guidelines; provided, that the housing provider furnishes the guidelines to the tenant upon request.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.55, a housing provider has the right to completely ban subletting or lease assignments, but only if that ban is written into the lease. When the lease either permits subletting with the housing provider's reasonable consent or says nothing about subletting at all, the housing provider may still require that any prospective subtenant meet the same reasonable rental qualification standards applied to other applicants. Those qualification guidelines must be shared with the tenant if requested.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.55 gives housing providers two distinct paths: either include an explicit prohibition on subletting in the lease, or allow subletting subject to reasonable screening criteria. Operators who choose the latter approach generally maintain written rental qualification guidelines and provide them to tenants upon request, applying those standards consistently to prospective subtenants. Keeping qualification criteria documented and uniformly applied supports compliance with the provision's reasonableness requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.55, your ability to sublet depends on what your lease says — a complete ban is only enforceable if it was included in the lease at signing. If your lease allows subletting with consent or is silent on the topic, your housing provider may screen a prospective subtenant but must apply reasonable qualification standards, and you can request a copy of those guidelines. Tenants who believe a housing provider is applying unreasonable or inconsistent criteria may consider raising the provision as a defense in a tenancy proceeding or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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