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DC Legislative Update Aug 11th, 18th, 25th @ 5pm

Categories: Real Estate Classes
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About Course

DC Legislative Update

This course fulfills 3 hours of Continuing Education credit in the District of Columbia. It is designed for licensed real estate professionals practicing in the unique environment of Washington, DC. Whether you’re working with tenants, buyers, landlords, or property managers, staying up to date with legislative developments ensures you’re serving your clients and the public with competence and compliance.

This is a live Zoom class. The class runs for 3 hours in length.

Recurring every Monday at 5:00 pm in August

Aug 11th, 18th, 25th

You should receive a Zoom link via email the day before the class.  Make sure to check your spam folder.  Please email us at AcademyPureBlackwood@Gmail.com if you do not receive it.

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Course Content

Unit 1: Course Introduction: DC Legislative Update
Introduction & Objectives The District of Columbia population is unlike any other in the U.S. Residents range from young professionals who came to the District from the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia seeking the city life, to members of Congress and their staff, who may live in the District for only a few years, or for decades (depending on how they fare come re-election time), to residents whose families have called DC their home for generations. And we haven’t even mentioned the tourists. It’s the DC Council’s job to weigh the needs and interests of these diverse groups, and to create laws that serve and protect them. Objectives Review how the District of Columbia prioritizes affordable housing and rent control and highlight recent DC laws that support the District’s goal of preserving and increasing affordable housing and addressing vacant and blighted buildings in the city. Review landlord-tenant law and other rental-related laws in DC, including the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and the District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA).

  • Welcome!
  • Course Completion Requirements

Unit 2: Affordable Housing and Other Protective DC Laws
Introduction & Objectives Affordable housing, or a lack thereof, has been a discussion topic in the media, advocacy groups, and the political arena for years, and lately the chatter has become louder and more urgent. The DC Council recognizes the effect that a lack of affordable housing has on individuals, families, and the real estate industry, and creates legislation in an effort to remedy that problem. If it’s true that inside of every problem lies an opportunity, the opportunity here is huge. Objectives Review how the District of Columbia prioritizes affordable housing and rent control and highlight recent DC laws that support the District’s goal of preserving and increasing affordable housing and addressing vacant and blighted buildings in the city.

The Rental Housing Act of 1985
The Rental Housing Act of 1985 (aka rent control law) was enacted to limit the amount of rent that landlords of apartment buildings can charge. The act is administered by the DHCD through its Rental Accommodations Division (RAD). Rent stabilization applies to any non-exempt rental unit. If not registered with RAD, the unit is considered under rent control. The act established the following definitions: Housing accommodation: An apartment building or complex Rental unit: Single-family house or apartment unit Housing provider: Landlord Rental Housing Act Requirements Act requirements include: Every rental unit must be registered with the RAD. Landlords must give 30 days’ notice for a rent increase. Rent increases must meet certain criteria. There’s a lower rent increase cap for tenants who are elderly and/or disabled. Landlords and tenants are subject to eviction guidelines. Only one rent increase per year is allowed. The act has been amended numerous times since its inception. We’ll discuss several recent amendments in this lesson.

Lesson 3: Laws Related to Vacant Homes in DC
Vacant Properties Simply put, DC law defines a vacant building as any building that is not occupied by people. Owners of vacant buildings in DC must register them within 30 days of the building becoming vacant and pay an annual $250 registration fee to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA). Failure to register a vacant building can result in significant civil penalties—between $1,000 and $2,000 per violation—and even criminal charges resulting in up to 90 days in prison. The Office of Tax and Revenue taxes vacant properties in the District twice a year, at the rate of $5 for every $100 of assessed value. This rate is considerably more than the tax rate for non-vacant properties, which runs from $0.85 per $100 for residential properties to $1.89 per $100 for commercial and industrial properties with an assessed value of $10 million or more. The tax rates alone are an incentive for owners of vacant buildings to get them occupied as soon as possible.

Unit 3: Rental-Related DC Laws
Introduction & Objectives According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies 2020 Rental Housing Report, nearly 60% of DC residents are renters, and 350,000 of the renters in the first three quarters of 2019 were new to the market. Granted, DC tends to be a rather transient area, given the turnover every election cycle, but that doesn’t negate the fact that a hefty chunk of permanent residents relies on landlord-tenant laws for protection. Newer tenants may not understand their rights—and that’s where you come in. Objectives Review landlord-tenant law and other rental-related laws in DC, including the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and the District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA).

Lesson 2: Tenant Protections in DC; Unit 3: Rental-Related DC Laws
Tenant Bill of Rights The DC Council continuously makes efforts to protect tenants’ rights—and inform tenants of those rights. We mentioned the Public Housing Residents Bill of Rights earlier in your course. Tenants in DC also have a bill of rights, and DC housing providers are required to give potential renters a copy of it. The bill of rights covers the topics of: Lease Security deposit Disclosure of information Receipts for rental payments Rent increases Building conditions Lead-based paint hazard Mold Quiet enjoyment Landlord retaliation Discrimination Right to organize Sale and conversion Relocation assistance Eviction If you’d like to read through the District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights, we’ve attached a copy in your optional resources.

Lesson 3: TOPA, DOPA, and DC1 of 16; Unit 3: Rental-Related DC Laws
Unit 3: Rental-Related DC Laws

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