14 DCMR § 14-1901
ELIGIBLE HOUSING UNITS
Operative Text
1901.1 Any privately-owned rental unit located in the District of Columbia, except if described under § 1901.4, may be approved for tenant assistance, if the unit is decent, safe, and sanitary, and in substantial compliance with the Housing Code as determined by DCHA. 1901.2 Congregate housing may be utilized for eligible elderly, handicapped or disabled families or individuals with the exception of congregate facilities providing services as described in 1901.4(b). Independent Group Residences may be utilized for eligible elderly, handicapped or disabled families or individuals that require a planned program of non-medical supportive services. 1901.3 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing units may be utilized for occupancy by single, eligible individuals capable of independent living. The SRO units shall not contain sanitary or food preparation facilities; sanitary or food preparation facilities shall be available elsewhere in the building. 1901.4 The following units shall not be eligible for tenant assistance: (a) Housing units receiving rent assistance payments based on tenant income under any federal housing program (such as Section 8 or other rental assistance payments), or public housing that is owned or managed by the District of Columbia government; (b) Nursing homes, units within the grounds of penal, reformatory, medical and similar public or private institutions, and facilities providing continual psychiatric, medical or nursing service; (c) Units owned by the applicant tenant or another member of the household; or (d) Units on the grounds of educational institutions or available only to students, staff or faculty of an educational institution.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1901 establishes which rental units in the District of Columbia may qualify for tenant assistance through the DC Housing Authority (DCHA). To be eligible, a privately-owned rental unit must be decent, safe, and sanitary, and in substantial compliance with the DC Housing Code. Certain specialized housing types—such as congregate housing and Single Room Occupancy units—may qualify under specific conditions, while other categories, including units already receiving federal rent assistance, nursing homes, institutionally-based housing, and units owned by the applicant, are explicitly excluded from eligibility.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1901, landlords who wish to have their units approved for tenant assistance programs administered by DCHA generally maintain their properties in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition and in substantial compliance with the DC Housing Code. Operators of congregate housing or Single Room Occupancy units should be aware that those unit types carry additional eligibility conditions specific to the populations they serve and the services they provide. Units that already receive federal rent subsidies or that fall into any of the excluded categories listed in § 1901.4 are not eligible for approval, regardless of their physical condition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1901 describes the types of units where tenant assistance may be used, which directly affects a tenant's housing choices under an assistance program. Tenants should be aware that a unit must meet DCHA's determination of decent, safe, and sanitary conditions and Housing Code compliance before it can be approved, and that certain unit types—such as those already subsidized under federal programs or located within institutional grounds—are categorically ineligible. Tenants who have questions about whether a specific unit type qualifies, or who believe a unit was improperly deemed ineligible, may wish to contact DCHA directly or reach 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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