14 DCMR § 14-309
REPAYMENT OF SECURITY DEPOSITS TO TENANTS
Operative Text
309.1 Within forty-five (45) days after the termination of the tenancy, the owner shall do one of the following: (1) Tender payment to the tenant, without demand, any security deposit and any similar payment paid by the tenant as a condition of tenancy in addition to the stipulated rent, and any interest due the tenant on that deposit or payment as provided in paragraph (4)(a) and (a-1) (14 DCMR § 311); or (2) Notify the tenant in writing, to be delivered to the tenant personally or by certified mail at the tenant's last known address, of the owner's intention to withhold and apply the monies toward defraying the cost of expenses properly incurred under the terms and conditions of the security deposit agreement. 309.2 The owner, within 30 days after notification to the tenant pursuant to the requirement of paragraph (2)(a)(2) (14 DCMR § 309.1(b)), shall tender a refund of the balance of the deposit or payment, including interest not used to defray such expenses, and at the same time give the tenant an itemized statement of the repairs and other uses to which the monies were applied and the cost of each repair or other use. 309.3 Failure by the owner to comply with § 309.1 and § 309.2 of this section shall constitute prima facie evidence that the tenant is entitled to full return, including interest as provided in § 311, of any deposit or other payment made by the tenant as security for performance of his or her obligations or as a condition of tenancy, in addition to the stipulated rent. 309.4 Failure by the owner to serve the tenant personally or by certified mail, after good faith effort to do so, shall not constitute a failure by the owner to comply with § 309.1 and § 309.2. 309.5 (1) Any housing provider violating the provisions of this section by failing to return a security deposit rightfully owed to a tenant in accordance with the requirements of this section shall be liable for the amount of the deposit withheld or, in the event of bad faith, for treble damages. (2) For the purposes of this sub-paragraph, the term “bad faith” means any frivolous or unfounded refusal to return a security deposit, as required by law, that is motivated by a fraudulent, deceptive, misleading, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose and not by simple negligence, bad judgment, or an honest belief in the course of action taken.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-309, when a tenancy ends in the District of Columbia, a property owner has 45 days to either return the security deposit with any accrued interest or send the tenant written notice of intent to withhold some or all of it. If any portion is withheld, the owner must provide an itemized statement of deductions and refund the remaining balance within 30 days of that notice. Failing to follow these steps creates a legal presumption that the tenant is owed the full deposit back, and willful or bad-faith withholding can expose the owner to treble damages.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-309 track the move-out date carefully and act within the 45-day window—either issuing a full refund with interest or delivering written notice of any intended withholding via personal delivery or certified mail. When deductions are taken, operators document every repair or expense with itemized costs and tender any remaining balance within 30 days of that notice. Maintaining thorough records of the property's condition at move-in and move-out, along with receipts for any work performed, supports a defensible accounting under this section.
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 et seq. § 14-309 gives tenants the right to receive their security deposit—plus interest—within 45 days of the tenancy ending, along with an itemized statement if any amount is withheld. If an owner fails to meet these deadlines or requirements, that failure serves as prima facie evidence that the full deposit is owed, and bad-faith withholding can result in the owner being liable for treble damages. Tenants who believe their deposit was improperly withheld may consider filing a complaint with a local housing authority, raising the violation as a defense or claim in court, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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