District of Columbia Rent Increase Notice

What District of Columbia law says

• The DHCD pamphlet says 'The housing provider must give a 30-day notice of any increase in rent.'
• It says the Act applies to all D.C. housing unless exempt; exemptions include subsidized units, units built after 1975, and units owned by a person with no more than four registered exempt units.
• For most tenants the increase cannot exceed the CPI-W percentage plus 2 percent, but not more than 10 percent; elderly or disabled tenants are capped at CPI, not more than 5 percent.
• The last increase must have been at least 12 months earlier, unless the unit is vacant.

Steps for a landlord

• Check whether the unit is rent controlled or exempt.
• If covered, compute the allowed percentage for the current year.
• Give written notice at least 30 days ahead.
• Confirm 12 months have passed since the last increase.

What to put in the notice

• The tenants' names and the rental address
• The current rent and the new rent
• The date the new rent starts, after the required notice period
• The date of the notice and how it was delivered
• Your name and signature

Things to watch

• The pamphlet does not address month-to-month tenancies or fixed-term leases separately.
• Rules change yearly and registration matters; check with DHCD or an attorney.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.