D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3232
Fraudulent attornment void; possession not changed by such attornment; limitation on scope of provisions.
Operative Text
All and every fraudulent attornment and attornments of any tenant or tenants of any messuages, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, shall be absolutely null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever; and the possession of their respective landlord or landlords, lessor or lessors, shall not be deemed or construed to be anywise changed, altered, or affected by any such attornment or attornments; provided always, that nothing herein contained shall extend to vacate or affect any attornment made pursuant to and in consequence of some judgment at law, or decree or order of a court of equity, or made with the privity and consent of the landlord or landlords, lessor or lessors, or to any mortgagee after the mortgage is become forfeited.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3232, any fraudulent transfer of a tenant's allegiance or rent obligation to a new landlord — known as an "attornment" — is treated as completely void and without legal effect. The original landlord's ownership and possessory rights remain unchanged as if the fraudulent act never occurred. Exceptions exist for attornments that result from a court judgment or decree, or that were made with the original landlord's knowledge and consent, or that involve a mortgagee after a mortgage has been forfeited.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3232 protects property owners from unauthorized attempts to redirect a tenant's rent payments or loyalty to a third party without the landlord's knowledge. Compliant operators generally document any legitimate change in tenancy relationships — such as those arising from court orders or consensual agreements — to distinguish them from fraudulent acts the statute voids. Keeping clear records of consent and any court-ordered transfers helps demonstrate that a given attornment falls within the recognized exceptions rather than the statute's broad prohibition.
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. § 42-3232 means that if someone other than your actual landlord attempts to claim your rent or tenancy through a fraudulent scheme, that claim has no legal standing and your original landlord's rights remain intact. Tenants who believe they have been subjected to an unauthorized or deceptive attornment may raise the statute's protections as a defense in any related legal proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services in the District of Columbia can help explain how this provision may apply to a given set of circumstances.
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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