14 DCMR § 14-4706
ELDERLY TENANCY
Operative Text
4706.1 The owner of a housing accommodation shall allow a tenant found eligible pursuant to § 4710.7 to remain as a tenant. 4706.2 The amount of rent shall be the lawful rent at the time of the request for election, plus any annual increases allowed pursuant to the Rental Housing Act of 1977, as amended (D.C. Law 2-54) and its successor legislation.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4706, housing accommodation owners in the District of Columbia must permit tenants who have been determined eligible under the elderly tenancy provisions to continue residing in their units. The rent for such tenants is set at the lawful rent in effect at the time the tenant elected this status, with only those annual increases permitted under the Rental Housing Act of 1977 and its successor legislation allowed thereafter. This rule effectively caps rent escalation for qualifying elderly tenants and prevents their removal solely on the basis of age-related eligibility determinations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4706 generally ensure that any tenant who has been formally found eligible under § 4710.7 is not displaced and continues to be offered tenancy. Compliant operators track the lawful rent at the time of the tenant's election and apply only the annual increases authorized under the Rental Housing Act of 1977 and its successor legislation when calculating rent adjustments for these tenants. Maintaining accurate records of the election date and the corresponding lawful rent amount is a common practice for demonstrating compliance with § 14-4706.
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. § 14-4706 provides that tenants who have been found eligible under the elderly tenancy provisions have the right to remain in their housing accommodation, with rent limited to the lawful amount at the time of election plus only the annual increases permitted by the Rental Housing Act of 1977 and its successor legislation. If a landlord attempts to remove an eligible tenant or charge rent increases beyond what § 14-4706 allows, that tenant may have grounds to raise the provision as a defense or to file a complaint with the District's relevant housing authority. Tenants seeking to understand their eligibility or enforcement options may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. rent regulations.
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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