D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3502.15
Voluntary agreement.
Operative Text
(a) Pursuant to rules and procedures enacted under § 42-3502.02(a)(1) , 70%, or more of the tenants of a housing accommodation may enter into a voluntary agreement with the housing provider: (1) To establish the reasonable rent charged; (2) To alter levels of related services and facilities; and (3) To provide for capital improvements and the elimination of deferred maintenance (ordinary repair). (a-1) A tenant in a unit exempt from the Rent Stabilization Program under § 42-3502.05(a) shall be permitted to comment on the provisions of a voluntary agreement and shall have their comments included in any filing of a voluntary agreement to the Rent Administrator. (b) A housing provider, tenant, or tenant association shall file a voluntary agreement with the Rent Administrator. If approved by the Rent Administrator, the agreement shall be binding on the housing provider and on all tenants, except as specified in § 42-3502.24(i)(2) . The voluntary agreement shall include: (1) The signature of each tenant, including that of a tenant who opted out of the voluntary agreement pursuant to subsection (a-1) of this section; (2) The number of each tenant's rental unit; (3) The specific amount of increased rent each tenant will pay, if applicable; (4) A statement that the agreement was entered into voluntarily without any form of coercion, as defined by subsection (e) of this section, on the part of the housing provider; (5) An explanation of why the housing provider did not pursue a rent adjustment pursuant to §§ 42-3502.10 , 42-3502.11 , 42-3502.12 , and 42-3502.14 ; and (6) Any other information the Rent Administrator requires. (c) Repealed. (d) The Rent Administrator shall determine whether a voluntary agreement complies with filing requirements, was agreed to without coercion, and whether any proposed rent adjustments within a voluntary agreement are reasonable. (e) For the purposes of this section, the term "coercion" includes the knowing circulation of inaccurate information, frequent visits or calls over the objection of that household, threat of retaliatory action, an act or threat not otherwise permitted by law which seeks to recover possession of a rental unit, increase rent, decrease services, increase the obligation of a tenant or cause undue or unavoidable inconvenience, harass or violate the privacy of the household, refusal to honor a lease provision, refusal to renew a lease or rental agreement, or other form of threat.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3502.15, at least 70% of tenants in a housing accommodation may enter into a voluntary agreement with their housing provider to set rent levels, adjust services and facilities, or address capital improvements and deferred maintenance. Any such agreement must be filed with the Rent Administrator, who reviews it to confirm it meets filing requirements, was reached without coercion, and contains only reasonable rent adjustments. The law broadly defines coercion to include tactics such as spreading false information, harassment, threats of retaliation, or refusal to renew leases, and the agreement becomes binding on all tenants and the housing provider once approved.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Housing providers operating under D.C. Code § 42-3502.15 who pursue a voluntary agreement generally ensure that at least 70% of tenants have signed on, that each tenant's signature and unit number are documented, and that the filing includes a clear statement that no coercion was used. Compliant operators also include an explanation of why standard rent-adjustment mechanisms under §§ 42-3502.10 through 42-3502.14 were not pursued, and they submit the complete package to the Rent Administrator for approval before treating any new rent levels as binding. Because the Rent Administrator scrutinizes the agreement for reasonableness and voluntariness, thorough and transparent documentation at every stage is characteristic of compliant practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3502.15 gives tenants meaningful participation rights in the voluntary agreement process, including the right to have comments included in any filing even if a tenant's unit is exempt from the Rent Stabilization Program. Once a voluntary agreement is approved by the Rent Administrator, it is binding on all tenants, so understanding what is in the agreement before it is filed is important. Tenants who believe an agreement was obtained through coercion—as broadly defined in subsection (e) of this section—may raise that concern with the Rent Administrator or seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. housing law.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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