14 DCMR § 14-4202
LAWFUL RENT UPON TERMINATION OF EXCLUSION
Operative Text
4202.1 For any rental unit previously excluded from coverage under the Act by § 205(e) of the Act and § 4105 of this title, the initial, lawful rent shall be determined in accordance with this section upon the occurrence of any event that causes the unit to lose its exclusion and come under the provisions of the Act; provided, that the unit is not otherwise exempt from the Rent Stabilization Program pursuant to § 205(a) of the Act and § 4106 of this title. 4202.2 A housing provider of a rental unit previously excluded from coverage of the Act and not claiming an exemption from the Rent Stabilization Program shall file a Registration/Claim of Exemption Form in accordance with § 4101 within thirty (30) days of the event that causes the unit to lose its exclusion. If a tenant occupies the unit at the time the unit loses its exclusion, the Registration/Claim of Exemption Form shall state the amount of rent lawfully determined in accordance with § 4202.3. If the unit is vacant at the time it loses its exclusion, the Registration/Claim of Exemption Form shall state the anticipated rent in accordance with § 4202.3; provided, that if the rent charged upon occupancy is different, the housing provider shall file a Certificate of Rent Adjustment within thirty (30) days of the first date the actual rent charged is due. 4202.3 The initial, lawful rent that shall be the basis for future rent adjustments for a rental unit described in § 4202.1 shall be the amount of rent charged to a tenant for the rental unit during the first month of the rental period in which the unit is occupied following the event that caused the rental unit to lose its exclusion.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4202, when a rental unit that was previously excluded from the District's Rent Stabilization Act loses that exclusion, the law establishes how its initial lawful rent is set. The starting rent is generally the amount charged during the first month of occupancy after the exclusion ends, and that figure becomes the baseline for any future rent adjustments. This rule applies as long as the unit does not qualify for a separate exemption from the Rent Stabilization Program.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing providers whose units come under the Rent Stabilization Act after losing a prior exclusion are governed by D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4202, which requires filing a Registration/Claim of Exemption Form within thirty days of the triggering event. If a tenant is already in place when the exclusion ends, compliant operators record the lawfully determined rent on that form; if the unit is vacant, they record the anticipated rent and file a Certificate of Rent Adjustment within thirty days if the actual rent charged upon occupancy differs. Keeping accurate records of the first month's rent after the exclusion ends is important because that amount anchors all future permissible rent adjustments.
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. § 14-4202 protects tenants by establishing that the rent charged during the first month of occupancy after a unit loses its prior exclusion becomes the lawful baseline rent under the Rent Stabilization Act. If a tenant believes a housing provider has set an initial rent improperly or failed to file the required registration form within thirty days, that concern can be raised with the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate or a local tenant-rights organization. Tenants may also have the ability to raise a violation of this provision as a defense or basis for a complaint in relevant administrative or legal proceedings.
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.
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