News
Mayor Signs Rent Control Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 724-8031
June 27, 2006
Washington, DC – Mayor Anthony Williams has signed a sweeping rent control reform bill into law.
The bill, authored by Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One), is the most significant change to the District’s rent control laws in more than 20 years. It applies to an estimated 100,000 apartments in the city.
“Today, we’ve saved rent control,” said Councilmember Graham. “Without this bill, rent control was dying on the vine. Rent control is supposed to preserve affordable housing. To me, a $1,900-a-month ‘rent-controlled’ one-bedroom apartment isn’t affordable housing. That’s why I introduced this bill in October and am so glad to see the Mayor sign it today.”
Bill 16-109 does the following:
- 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).
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 final approval to the proposal June 6.
“The issue of rent control is usually laden with controversy and disagreement,” said Mayor Williams. “So it is remarkable that we are here today to celebrate a reform package that has the blessing of landlords, tenants, and the Council.”
B16-109 will become law automatically if Congress does not act in the next 30 days the House and Senate are both in session.
For the text of the rent control reform act, a detailed comparison of the bill with the current law, and a statement of support from various tenant advocates, please click here.
###
|
