D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3214
Landlord’s lien for rent — How enforced.
Operative Text
The said lien may be enforced: (1) By attachment, to be issued upon affidavit that the rent is due and unpaid; or, if it be not due, that the defendant is about to remove or sell some part of said chattels; (2) By judgment against the tenant and execution, to be levied on said chattels, or any of them, in whosesoever hands they may be found; (3) By action against any purchaser of said chattels, with notice of the lien, in which action the plaintiff may have judgment for the value of the chattels purchased by the defendant not exceeding the rent in arrear.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3214, a landlord who holds a lien for unpaid rent has three legally recognized ways to enforce that lien against a tenant's personal property (chattels): by seeking an attachment order when rent is overdue or when the tenant appears to be moving or selling the property, by obtaining a court judgment and executing it against those chattels wherever they are found, or by suing a third-party buyer of those chattels who had prior notice of the lien. The provision sets the recoverable amount in a suit against a buyer at no more than the rent actually in arrears. These enforcement mechanisms operate through the courts and are subject to applicable procedural requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in the District of Columbia who hold a rent lien should be aware that D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3214 outlines three distinct court-based enforcement paths for collecting unpaid rent through a tenant's personal property. Compliant operators typically document the amount of rent owed and any evidence that a tenant may be disposing of chattels before pursuing an attachment, and they ensure that any third-party purchaser of those chattels receives proper notice of the existing lien. Consulting legal counsel familiar with D.C. landlord-tenant procedure is a common step before initiating any of these enforcement actions.
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. § 42-3214 describes the methods a landlord may use to enforce a lien against a tenant's personal property for unpaid rent, including court attachment, judgment and execution, and suits against buyers of the tenant's chattels. Tenants whose personal property is subject to such enforcement generally have the right to contest the underlying claim in court, and the provision limits any recovery against a third-party buyer to the amount of rent actually in arrears. Tenants facing lien enforcement may find it helpful to contact a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. landlord-tenant law to understand available defenses and procedural options.
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.
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