Tenant Protection Temporary Amendment of 2000
Bill 13-668

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To amend, on a temporary basis, the Rental Housing Act of 1985 and the Rental Conversion and Sale Act of 1990 to preserve tenant rights if a building has been closed by the District of Columbia for housing code violations by providing that 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 Temporary Amendment Act of 2000."

Sec. 2. Section 501 of the Rental Housing Act of 1980, effective July 17, 1985 ( D.C. Law 6-10: D.C. Code § 45-2551) is amended by adding a new subsection (m) which to read 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 14 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 ? years after the date that physical occupancy ceased.

"(2) The Mayor stall 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) Any notice required under this subchapter 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. 45-1604. Applicability of Rental Housing Act of 1985

"For proposes of this Act, the provisions of § 5O 1(m) of the Rental Housing Act of 1980, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Code § 251 (m) shall apply."

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.

(a) 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), 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)), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.