Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Washington, DC: What Can I Do?

1. In Washington, DC, your landlord must not punish you for using a right you have under the DC rental housing law or any other law. The law lists an unlawful rent increase, a cut in services, and a refusal to renew your lease as examples of punishment.

   D.C. Code § 42-3505.02(a)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

2. In Washington, DC, suppose your landlord acts against you within 6 months after you ask for repairs. The action is presumed (the court treats it as true unless your landlord proves it is not) to be retaliation. Your landlord must show clear and convincing evidence. The request must be oral in front of a witness, or in writing. It must ask for repairs needed to meet the housing regulations. Keep a dated copy and photos.

   RenterLaw editorial D.C. Code § 42-3505.02(b)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

3. In Washington, DC, suppose your landlord acts against you within 6 months after your repair request. The court says the action is presumed (the court treats it as true unless your landlord proves it is not) to be punishment. The landlord needs clear and convincing evidence. The request must be in writing or in front of a witness. It must ask for repairs needed to meet the housing regulations.

   D.C. Code § 42-3505.02(b)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

4. In Washington, DC, suppose your landlord acts against you within 6 months after you took certain steps. The court says the action is presumed (the court treats it as true unless your landlord proves it is not) to be punishment. One step is telling District officials about housing violations, in writing or in front of a witness. Another is bringing legal action against your landlord.

   D.C. Code § 42-3505.02(b)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

5. In Washington, DC, suppose your landlord acts against you within 6 months after you legally held back rent. The action is presumed (the court treats it as true unless your landlord proves it is not) to be retaliation. Your landlord must show clear and convincing evidence. You must first have given reasonable notice of a housing violation, in writing or in front of a witness. Only rent held back legally counts. Holding back rent is risky. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.

   RenterLaw editorial D.C. Code § 42-3505.02(b)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

6. A DC court may appoint a receiver (a person named to protect tenants' health and safety and to maintain and repair the building). One ground: the Department of Buildings cited the building for a violation that is a serious threat to tenants' health, safety, or security. The owner, landlord, agent, or manager must have been told properly. The violation must still not be fixed in time.

   D.C. Code § 42-3651.02(a) D.C. Code § 42-3651.01

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

7. A DC court may appoint a receiver (a person named to protect tenants' health and safety and to maintain and repair the building). This can happen if a rental building shows a pattern of neglect for 30 consecutive days. The neglect must be a serious threat to tenants' health, safety, or security.

   D.C. Code § 42-3651.02(b) D.C. Code § 42-3651.01

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

8. A DC court may appoint a receiver (a person named to protect tenants' health and safety and to maintain and repair the building). A serious threat to tenants' health, safety, or security includes rats or other pests. It includes doors or window locks that do not work. It includes fire safety or warning equipment that does not work.

   D.C. Code § 42-3651.02(c) D.C. Code § 42-3651.01

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

9. In Washington, DC, the Attorney General can ask the Superior Court to appoint a receiver of the rents. A majority of the tenants can ask the Attorney General in writing to do this. If the Attorney General says no, the tenants can file the petition (the written request to the court). They can file it too if the Attorney General files nothing within 5 days of the request. The 5 days do not count Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

   D.C. Code § 42-3651.03(a)

   ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

10. Most DC rental units are covered by the rent rules in D.C. Code 42-3502.06 through 42-3502.16. Some are not. One example is a unit in housing owned by the federal or DC government. Another is a unit in a new building with a building permit issued after December 31, 1975. That does not hold if building it required tearing down housing under these rules, unless it has more rental units than were torn down. A building with 4 or fewer rental units can be left out too, if its owners meet the law's conditions.

    D.C. Code § 42-3502.05(a)

    ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

11. In Washington, DC, the Rent Administrator may lower rents in units covered by the rent limit rules. Most rental units are covered. Some are left out. The violations must be excessive and prolonged. They must affect tenants' health, safety, and security, or whether the building is fit to live in. The landlord must have failed to fix them. Rents cannot go below the September 1, 1983 base rent. The cut lasts until the violations are fixed.

    D.C. Code § 42-3502.05(a) D.C. Code § 42-3502.08(a)(2)

    ✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026

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