D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3201
When notice to quit not necessary.
Operative Text
When real estate is leased for a certain term no notice to quit shall be necessary, but the landlord shall be entitled to the possession, without such notice, immediately upon the expiration of the term.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq., when a rental property is leased for a fixed, defined term, the lease ends automatically when that term expires. Neither the landlord nor the tenant is required to give formal notice to quit in order to terminate the tenancy — the expiration of the agreed-upon term itself serves as the termination event. At that moment, the landlord becomes entitled to reclaim possession of the property without any additional legal notice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq., operators who use fixed-term leases generally do not need to serve a formal notice to quit when the lease term ends — the term's expiration itself triggers the right to reclaim possession. Compliant operators typically document the lease end date clearly in the rental agreement and communicate with tenants well in advance about move-out expectations. If a tenant remains in the unit after the term expires, landlords should be aware that holdover tenancy rules may apply and that separate legal procedures may govern removal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. establishes that a fixed-term lease ends on its stated expiration date without requiring the landlord to serve a formal notice to quit. Tenants in fixed-term leases should be aware that their right to occupy the unit is tied to the lease's end date, and that the landlord's right to possession arises automatically at expiration. Tenants who believe their situation involves a different type of tenancy arrangement, or who have questions about holdover rights, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource familiar with District of Columbia housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation