Legislative Alert – Public Hearings Set For New Rental Bills

Public Hearings Scheduled For October 19

Recently, the DC Council passed a rental late fee bill that we successfully amended on a number of fronts. The legislation caps late fees at 5% or less and standardizes a five-day ‘grace period.’ DCAR worked with Councilmember Anita Bonds (I-At Large) on both issues to scale the framework to levels that are acceptable to the REALTOR® community. Now DCAR is active on a new set of rental bills.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at 10 AM, the Committee on Housing and Community Development will hold a public hearing at the John A. Wilson Building, at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, in Room 123. Association President Angela Jones and your DCAR team will be there to testify. If you would like to follow the hearing live on the internet, click here. The Council will hear testimony on the following bills:

• Rental Housing Affordability Stabilization Amendment
  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be limited for the standard annual rent increase for rent controlled units. The proposed bill eliminates CPI plus 2% and vacancy rent increases. You may view the bill here.

• Rent Concession and Rent Ceiling Abolition Clarification
  • This bill would require that an increase in rent is based on rent actually charged, as opposed to an amount that may be registered with the Rent Administrator.
  • Additionally, it requires a more clear disclosure report of the terms of a “rent concession” agreement, and to affirm that tenant rights are not a condition of the rent concession. You may view the bill here.

• Four-unit Rental Housing Tenant Grandfathering Amendment
  • The bill would give tenants TOPA rights where a housing provider, who was previously not exempt from rent control, seeks to transfer ownership of units, thereby becoming eligible for an exemption from rent control.
  • Also, it would ensure that rent control remains in place for all current tenants and tenants from 90 days prior to the effective date of a transfer. You may view the bill here.

DCAR has worked extensively to ensure the business needs of housing providers are considered while rental legislation is being written. If you have feedback, questions, or comments, please reach out to our legislative counsel Katalin Peter, Esq. at DC Legislative.