D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3501.01
Findings.
Operative Text
The Council of the District of Columbia finds that: (1) There is a severe shortage of rental housing available to citizens of the District of Columbia (“District”). (2) The shortage of housing is growing due to the withdrawal of housing units from the housing market, deterioration of existing housing units, and the lack of development of new or rehabilitation of vacant housing units. (3) The shortage of housing is felt most acutely among low- and moderate-income renters, who are finding a shrinking pool of available dwellings. (4) The cost of basic accommodation is so high as to cause undue hardship for many citizens of the District of Columbia. (5) Many low- and moderate-income tenants need assistance to cover basic shelter costs, but the assistance should maximize individual choice. (6) The Rent Stabilization Program (“Program”) has a more substantial impact upon small housing providers than on large housing providers, and small housing providers find it more difficult to use the administrative machinery of the Program. (7) Many small housing providers are experiencing financial difficulties and are in need of some special mechanisms to assist them and their tenants. (8) The present Rent Stabilization Program should not be continued indefinitely and new approaches must be investigated to prevent the withdrawal of rental housing units from the market and the deterioration of existing rental housing units, and to increase the rental housing supply. (9) The housing crisis in the District has not substantially improved since the passage of the Rental Housing Act of 1980. (10) The Rent Stabilization Program should be extended for 6 years. (11) This extension of the Rent Stabilization Program is required to preserve the public peace, health, safety, and general welfare.
D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. opens with a set of legislative findings in which the District of Columbia Council formally documented the conditions that motivated the Rent Stabilization Program. These findings identify a severe and worsening shortage of rental housing, disproportionate hardship on low- and moderate-income renters, and financial strain on small housing providers. The Council concluded that extending the Rent Stabilization Program was necessary to protect public peace, health, safety, and general welfare, while acknowledging that the program's long-term form should continue to evolve.
Plain English — not legal advice.
The findings section of D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. establishes the policy backdrop against which the District's rent stabilization rules operate, including explicit recognition that the Program places a heavier administrative burden on small housing providers than on large ones. Operators who understand this legislative history are generally better positioned to navigate the Program's special mechanisms designed to assist smaller providers. Familiarity with these stated findings can inform how a housing provider approaches compliance, administrative filings, and any requests for relief available under the Program.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3501.01 et seq. begins with Council findings that formally acknowledge the housing affordability crisis facing District renters, particularly those with low or moderate incomes. These findings underpin the legal authority for rent stabilization protections that tenants may be able to invoke, including as a defense in eviction or rent-increase disputes. Tenants seeking to understand how these foundational findings connect to specific rights and remedies may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or the District's Office of the Tenant Advocate.
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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