D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3210.01
Disposal of tenant's personal property upon ejectment.
Operative Text
(a) At the time of an ejectment not subject to Chapter 35 of this title , the landlord shall change the locks on the leased premises in the presence of the United States Marshals Service ("Marshals"), at the landlord's expense, and take legal possession of the leased premises by receipt of a document from the Marshals.
(b) Any right of the ejected tenant to redeem the tenancy shall be extinguished at the time of ejectment.
(c) Any personal property remaining in or about the leased premises at the time of ejectment is deemed abandoned property.
(d) (1) The landlord shall dispose of any abandoned property in any manner not prohibited by subsection (e) of this section or otherwise expressly prohibited by law.
(2) If the landlord receives any funds from any sale of such abandoned property, the landlord shall pay such funds to the account of the ejected tenant and apply any amounts due the landlord by the ejected tenant, including the actual costs incurred by the landlord in the ejectment process described in this section.
(3) If any funds are remaining after application, the remaining funds shall be treated as a security deposit under applicable law.
(e) The landlord is prohibited from placing or causing the placement of abandoned property in an outdoor space other than a licensed disposal facility or lawful disposal receptacle; provided, that a landlord may place abandoned property or cause abandoned property to be placed in an outdoor private or public space while in the process of transporting the abandoned property from the leased premises for disposal.
(f) The landlord and anyone acting on behalf of the landlord shall be immune from civil liability for loss or damage to the ejected tenant's abandoned property or claims related to its lawful disposal.
(g) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(1) "Ejectment" shall have the same meaning as the term "eviction" under Chapter 35 of this title .
(2) "Time of ejectment" means the time at which the Marshals execute a writ of restitution.D.C. Code § 42-3210.01 governs what happens to a tenant's belongings and the rental unit at the moment a U.S. Marshal executes a writ of restitution in an ejectment proceeding not covered by Chapter 35. At that moment, the landlord must change the locks in the Marshals' presence and take formal possession, while any personal property left behind is legally classified as abandoned. The landlord may then dispose of that property through lawful means, must account for any sale proceeds by crediting them against amounts owed and treating any surplus as a security deposit, and is shielded from civil liability for loss or damage to the disposed property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3210.01, a compliant property owner coordinates the lock change with the U.S. Marshals Service at the time of ejectment and obtains the required possession document, covering all associated costs. When abandoned property remains on the premises, operators generally document what is present, dispose of it only through lawful channels, and avoid placing items in outdoor spaces except during active transport to a licensed disposal facility or lawful receptacle. If any abandoned property is sold, the proceeds are applied first to amounts the ejected tenant owes—including actual ejectment costs—with any surplus held and treated as a security deposit under applicable law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3210.01 establishes that once U.S. Marshals execute a writ of restitution, any right to reclaim the tenancy is extinguished and personal property left behind is deemed legally abandoned. If a landlord sells that property, the statute requires that proceeds be credited to the former tenant's account, with any surplus after deductions treated as a security deposit under applicable law—meaning a former tenant may have a claim to remaining funds. Tenants who believe a landlord has violated the disposal or proceeds requirements of § 42-3210.01 may consider contacting a tenant-rights organization, the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate, or consulting an attorney to understand available remedies.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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