News
Sweeping New Rent Control Reform Sent to Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 724-8031
June 6, 2006
Washington, DC – A stronger, simpler rent control law is on its way to Mayor Williams for his signature.
A unanimous DC Council today gave final approval to a rent control reform bill, authored by Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One). This is the most significant change to the District’s rent control laws in more than 20 years. This law applies to an estimated 100,000 apartments in the city.
“With caps on increases, rent will now be controlled, with a very positive result for affordable housing,” said Councilmember Graham. “The old law was no longer working, and more and more apartments were moving from affordable to luxury rents.”
The bill is a consensus measure reached during negotiations that began last November. Ten separate negotiating sessions were convened, with tenant groups, housing providers, the Apartment and Office Building Association, and the Administration. The Council gave initial approval to the proposal May 2.
“Our bill means fewer, smaller rent increases for tenants,” said Councilmember Graham. “Also, we’re freeing the landlords from costly and time consuming paperwork.”
The bill:
- Caps annual rent increases at 2% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- For elderly or disabled tenants, caps annual rent increases at the CPI.
- Limits the frequency of annual rent increases to once per year.
- Caps any vacancy rent increase at a maximum of 30% of the current rent charged for the vacant unit.
- Abolishes rent ceilings and rent ceiling adjustments (except for adjustments by petition previously approved by the Rent Administrator).
For the text of the rent control reform proposal, a detailed comparison of the bill with the current law, and a statement of support from various tenant advocates, please click here.
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COUNCIL APPROVES TENANT RIGHT-TO-ORGANIZE ACT
In separate action, the Council also approved a Graham bill guaranteeing tenants the right to organize. The bill requires landlords to allow tenants to post meeting notices, hand out leaflets, put information under the doors of other tenants, and allow tenant organizers access to apartment buildings. It also gives tenant associations access to common areas of apartment buildings for their meetings.
“Organizing a tenant association is serious business,” said Councilmember Graham. “Under this bill, we’ll have serious fines – up to $10,000 -- for standing in the way of the tenants who want to organize.”
Bill 16-458 can be viewed here.
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