D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3404.10
Accommodations with 2 through 4 units.
Operative Text
(a) The following provisions shall apply to accommodations owned in majority by a business corporation, as that term is defined in § 29-101.02(2)(A) , with 2 through 4 units, other than 2-unit single-family accommodations: (1) Joint and several response. -- The tenants may respond to an owner’s offer first jointly, then severally. Upon receipt of a written offer of sale from the owner that includes a description of the tenant’s rights and obligations under this section, or upon the Mayor’s receipt of a copy of the written offer of sale, whichever is later, a group of tenants acting jointly shall have 15 days to provide the owner and the Mayor, by hand or by sending by certified mail, with a written statement of interest. Following that time period, if the tenants acting jointly have failed to submit a written statement of interest, an individual tenant shall have 7 days to provide a statement of interest to the owner and the Mayor, by hand or by sending by certified mail,. Each statement of interest must be clear expression of interest on the part of the tenant or tenant group to exercise the right to purchase as specified in this subchapter; (2) Negotiation period. -- (A) Upon receipt of a letter of intent from a tenant or a tenant group, the owner shall afford the tenants a reasonable period to negotiate a contract of sale, and shall not require less than 90 days. For every day of delay in providing information by the owner as required by this subchapter, the negotiation period is extended by 1 day. If more than 1 individual tenant submits a written statement of interest, the owner shall negotiate with each tenant separately, or jointly if the tenants agree to negotiate jointly; (B) If, at the end of the 90-day period or any extensions thereof, the tenants jointly have not contracted with the owner, the owner shall provide an additional 30-day period, during which any 1 of the current tenants may contract with the owner for the purchase of the accommodation; (C) If the owner is required to negotiate with more than one tenant pursuant to this section, the owner may decide which contract is more favorable without liability to the other tenants. (3) Time before settlement. -- The owner shall afford the tenant a reasonable period prior to settlement in order to secure financing and financial assistance, and shall not require less than 90 days after the date of contracting. If a lending institution or agency estimates in writing that a decision with respect to financing or financial assistance will be made within 120 days after the date of contracting, the owner shall afford an extension of time consistent with that written estimate; (4) Lapse of time. -- If 240 days elapse from the date of a valid offer under this subchapter and the owner has not sold or contracted for the sale of the accommodation, the owner shall comply anew with the terms of this subchapter. (b) Accommodations with 2 through 4 units, not owned in majority by a business corporation as defined in § 29-101.02(2)(A) , shall be exempt from this subchapter except that tenants of such accommodations shall be entitled to the notice and rights provided in § 42-3404.09(b) .
D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3404.10 establishes a structured right-of-first-purchase process for tenants living in 2-to-4-unit buildings that are majority-owned by a business corporation. When such a property is offered for sale, tenants first have an opportunity to respond collectively (within 15 days), and then individually (within an additional 7 days), before the owner can proceed freely with a third-party sale. The process includes a minimum 90-day negotiation window, a 30-day individual contracting period, and at least 90 days after contracting to secure financing — with the entire process resetting if 240 days pass without a completed sale or contract. Buildings in this size range that are not majority-owned by a business corporation are largely exempt, though their tenants retain the notice rights described in § 42-3404.09(b).
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3404.10, owners of majority-corporation-owned 2-to-4-unit buildings (excluding 2-unit single-family accommodations) who intend to sell must provide tenants with a written offer of sale that clearly describes tenant rights and obligations under this section. Compliant operators track the sequential response windows — 15 days for a joint tenant response, then 7 days for individual responses — and maintain the required 90-day negotiation period, extending it day-for-day whenever they delay in providing required information. Owners also keep records of the 240-day clock from the date of a valid offer, since failing to complete a sale or contract within that window requires restarting the entire tenant-opportunity process from the beginning.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3401.01 et seq. § 42-3404.10 gives tenants in qualifying majority-corporation-owned 2-to-4-unit buildings the right to be notified of a pending sale and to express interest in purchasing — first as a group, then individually — before the owner can proceed with an outside buyer. Tenants who believe an owner has skipped or shortened these required steps may have grounds to raise a violation as a defense in related legal proceedings or to file a complaint with the District of Columbia's relevant housing authorities. Tenant-rights organizations in the District can help residents of these buildings understand whether their building qualifies under this provision and what options may be available when the process is not followed correctly.
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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