DC has one of, if not the strictest, eviction moratoria in the country. The Council’s so-called “off-ramp” is a series of expiration dates when different aspects of the eviction protections come to an end. Below is a summary of the relevant dates and details on what actions landlords may take.

Evictions and case filings in DC are resuming gradually after a 19-month ban. The Council has complicated the process with new requirements, many of which are identified here. We understand that landlords may have additional questions and are glad to help navigate the process.

A new law making it tougher for landlords to evict tenants took effect on November 9, 2020. Among the tenant protections in the Fairness in Renting Emergency Amendment Act, is a requirement that landlords have a current housing basic business license in order to access the courts and file an eviction case. This is a change from the Superior Court’s existing precedent, which allowed even unlicensed owners to pursue eviction.

On October 14, 2020 a new law is set to go into effect further restricting landlords’ from preventing harm to tenants and buildings. The law does two things: prohibits a housing provider from issuing a notice to vacate to a tenant; and use any alternative means, such as decreasing services, to constructively evict a tenant. Notably, the second piece is redundant, as constructive eviction has been illegal for decades.