D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3220
Action in debt may be brought for rent in arrears under lease or demise for life.
Operative Text
It shall and may be lawful for any person or persons, having any rent in arrear, or due upon any lease or demise for life or lives, to bring an action or actions of debt for such arrears of rent, in the same manner they might have done, in case such rent were due, and reserved upon a lease for years.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3220, when rent goes unpaid under a lease tied to a person's lifetime (rather than a fixed term of years), the party owed that rent retains the right to pursue a formal debt action in court to recover the overdue amounts. This provision clarifies that life-estate leases carry the same legal remedies for unpaid rent as more common fixed-term leases. The rule effectively removes a procedural gap that might otherwise have left landlords without a clear court remedy in these less common tenancy arrangements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners holding leases structured around a tenant's lifetime—rather than a set number of years—should be aware that D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3220 preserves their ability to pursue unpaid rent through a debt action in court, just as they could under a standard term lease. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough records of rent due dates, amounts owed, and any communications regarding arrears, since these records support any court filing. Consulting with a licensed DC attorney familiar with landlord-tenant law is a common step operators take before initiating a debt action under this provision.
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. § 42-3220 means that a landlord holding a life-estate lease has the same legal standing to sue for unpaid rent in court as a landlord under a conventional fixed-term lease. Tenants in life-estate arrangements who receive notice of a debt action for rent arrears have the right to respond and raise any applicable defenses in that proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in the District of Columbia can help individuals understand what defenses or counterclaims may be available under DC landlord-tenant law when facing such an action.
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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