FORM OTA 2015.07.03 p. 3
9. QUIET ENJOYMENT AND RETALIATION: The landlord may not unreasonably
interfere with the tenant’s comfort, safety or enjoyment of a rental unit, whether for the
purpose of causing the housing accommodation to become vacant or otherwise (D.C.
Official Code § 42-3402.10). The landlord may not retaliate against you for exercising any
right of tenancy. Retaliation includes unlawfully seeking to recover possession of your
unit, to increase the rent, to decrease services or increase your obligations; and also
includes violating your privacy, harassing you, or refusing to honor your lease. (D.C.
Official Code § 42-3505.02)
10. DISCRIMINATION: The landlord may not engage in discriminatory acts based upon the
actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, genetic
information, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial
status, family responsibilities, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, source of
income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, or place of residence or business of
any individual. Discriminatory acts include refusing to rent; renting on unfavorable terms,
conditions, or privileges; creating a hostile living environment; and refusing to make
reasonable accommodations to give a person an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the
premises. (D.C. Official Code § 2-1401.01 et seq.)
11. RIGHT TO ORGANIZE: The landlord may not interfere with the right of tenants to
organize a tenant association, convene meetings, distribute literature, post information, and
provide building access to an outside tenant organizer. (D.C. Official Code § 42-3505.06)
12. SALE AND CONVERSION: Tenants must be given the opportunity to purchase an
accommodation before the landlord sells or demolishes the accommodation or discontinues
the housing use. The landlord may not convert the rental accommodation to a cooperative
or condominium unless a majority of the tenants votes for the conversion in a tenant
election certified by the District’s Conversion and Sale Administrator. (D.C. Official Code
§§ 42-3404.02 & 42-3402.02)
13. RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: If you are displaced by alterations or renovations,
substantial rehabilitation, demolition, or the discontinuance of the housing use, you may
have the right to receive relocation assistance from your landlord. (D.C. Official Code §
42-3507.01)
14. EVICTION: The landlord may evict you only for one of ten specific reasons set forth in
Title V of the Rental Housing Act of 1985. For example, you may not be evicted just
because your lease term expires, or because the rental property has been sold or foreclosed
upon. Even if there is a valid basis to evict you, the landlord may not use “self-help”
methods to do so, such as cutting off your utilities or changing the locks. Rather, the
landlord must go through the judicial process. You generally must be given a written
Notice to Vacate (an exception is non-payment of rent where you waive the right to notice
in the lease); an opportunity to cure the lease violation, if that is the basis for the action;
and an opportunity to challenge the landlord’s claims in court. Finally, any eviction must
be pursuant to a court order, and must be scheduled and supervised by the U.S. Marshal
Service. (D.C. Official Code § 42-3505.01)