Tenant Protection Emergency Amendment Act of 2000
Bill 13-666

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AN ACT IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To amend, on an emergency basis, the Rental Housing Act of 1985 and the Rental Conversion and Sale Act of 1980 to provide that if a building has been closed by the District of Columbia for housing code violations, the tenancy shall continue for 2 years after physical occupancy ceases for purposes of preservation of tenancy rights and rights relating to sale or conversion and reoccupancy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Tenant Protection Emergency Amendment Act of 2000".

Sec. 2. Section 501 of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 ( D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Code § 45-2551), is amended by adding a new subsection (m) to read as follows:

"(m)(1) If the occupancy of a tenant has been or will be terminated by a placard placed by the District of Columbia government in accordance with 14 DCMR § 103 for violations of Title 1 4 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations that threaten the life, health, or safety of the tenant, the tenancy shall not be deemed terminated for a period of 2 years after the date that physical occupancy ceased.

"(2) The Mayor shall maintain a registry of the persons, including their subsequent interim addresses, who were tenants at the time the building was placarded.

"(3) At the time of the placarding, the Mayor shall provide a written notice to the tenants of the right to maintain their tenancy and the need to keep the Mayor informed of interim addresses. The notice shall contain the address and telephone number of the office maintaining the registry.

"(4) A notice required under this title shall be effective when sent to the tenant at the address maintained in the registry.".

Sec. 3. The Rental Conversion and Sale Act of 1980. effective September 10, 1980 (D.C. Law 3-86: D.C. Code §45-1601 et seq.), is amended by adding a new section 104 to read as follows:

"Sec. 104. Applicability of Rental Housing Act of 1985.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the attached fiscal impact statement as the fiscal impact required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(3)).

Sec. 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a)), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Code §1229(a)).

Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia
Mayor, District of Columbia