Emergency Coronavirus Law for DC Bars and Restaurants (Updated 3/22/20) The COVID-19 emergency has decimated the hospitality industry and the legal situation is fluid. We have put together this legal guide to assist you in identifying appropriate resources. If you own a nightlife establishment, I will be glad to consult with you free of charge. Read more about Guide to DC Emergency Coronavirus Law[…]
Emergency Post-Shutdown Eviction Relief for Federal Workers On January 22, the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation to give formerly furloughed federal workers and contractors relief from eviction, late fees and foreclosure sales. The new law allows Judges to stay eviction and foreclosure proceedings against federal workers until thirty (30) days after the government reopens or Read more about D.C. Council Stops Evictions for Federal Workers[…]
Council’s Final Word on Rent Concessions In the time crunch before the end of the Council Period, it seems that the years-in-the-making legislation to quell the practice of rent concessions will finally come to fruition. Brief history lesson: prior to 2006 Rent Control was based on a system of rent ceilings. The “ceiling” was the Read more about D.C. Rent Concessions Law[…]
A unanimous Council vote finalizes restrictive short-term rental law In October the Council took a preliminary vote to adopt among the most restrictive short-term housing regulations (AirBnB Law) in the Country. This week the Council passed the final version of the law, with only small changes. The new law will be a potentially huge impediment Read more about DC Council approves final version of AirBnB Law[…]
Preliminary vote by D.C. Council to pass short term rental regulations On Tuesday October 2, 2018, the D.C Council took a preliminary, unanimous, vote to enact one of the most stringent regulations in the Country on short-term housing rentals such as Airbnb , HomeAway, and VRBO. If the bill becomes law in its present form, Read more about D.C.’s New Airbnb Law[…]
Most D.C. bars, lounges, and clubs are probably breaking this security camera law and they don’t even know it Security camera systems break down, they need to be maintained, upgraded, and eventually replaced. It’s an inevitability. But, did you know, that if your cameras are not working, you are required to inform the ABC Board? Read more about Is your establishment breaking the security camera law?[…]
A couple of months ago, I posted that the U.S. Marshals Service announced changes to DC eviction procedures.[here] Broadly speaking the Marshals decided that they would no longer supervise the removal of tenant belongings from a unit, but merely allow the landlord to execute a lock change at eviction. Oddly, until now, there have been Read more about Emergency law to implement changes to DC eviction procedures[…]
DC Council amends TOPA In the midst of the oversight season, the Council pressed forward with its legislative agenda. On March 6, 2018, they passed a somewhat controversial TOPA Amendment, exempting owner-occupied single family homes. TOPA applies to the owners of rental housing accommodations regardless of the number units. Where an owner wants to sell Read more about New TOPA Amendment exempts single family homes[…]
The DC Human Rights Act includes protections for an applicant’s criminal record. One of the things the District has gotten right is establishing, maintaining and expanding one of the most protective Human Rights laws in the nation. I am very proud to live in a place where wrongful discrimination, of any kind, is simply not Read more about Don’t refuse to rent based on criminal record until your read this[…]
In 2008, the Council passed the District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA). As the name suggests, DOPA gives the District the right to purchase residential buildings, in certain circumstances, where the owner seeks to sell to a third party. The 2008 Act left many open questions for the Agency to resolve by promulgating regulations. On Read more about TOPA’s Red-Headed Stepchild[…]