D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3505.07
Notice of lease termination by tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense.
Operative Text
(a) For purposes of this section, the term “qualified third party” means any of the following persons acting in their official capacity: (1) A law enforcement officer, as defined in § 4-1301.02(15) ; (2) A sworn officer of the D.C. Housing Authority Office of Public Safety; (3) A health professional, as defined in § 3-1201.01(8) ; or (4) A domestic violence counselor as defined § 14-310(a)(2) . (b) If a tenant, who is a victim, or who is the parent or guardian of a minor victim, of an intrafamily offense or actions relating to an intrafamily offense, as defined in § 16-1001(8) , provides a housing provider with a copy of an order under § 16-1005 in response to a petition filed by or on behalf of the tenant, the tenant shall be released from obligations under the rental agreement. (c) If a tenant who is a victim, or who is the parent or guardian of a minor victim, of an intrafamily offense or actions relating to an intrafamily offense, as defined in § 16-1001(8) , provides a housing provider with documentation signed by a qualified third party showing that the tenant has reported the intrafamily offense to the third party acting in his or her official capacity, the tenant shall be released from obligations under the rental agreement. (d) The release from a rental agreement shall be effective upon the earlier of: (1) Fourteen days after the housing provider receives: (A) Written notice of the lease termination under this section; and (B) Documentation pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section; or (2) Upon the commencement of a new tenancy for the unit. (e) Any request by the tenant for termination of the rental agreement under this section shall be made within 90 days of the reported act, event, or circumstance that was cited in the petition or reported to a qualified third party. (f) Notwithstanding any penalty provided under a rental agreement, a tenant who is released from the rental agreement under this section shall be liable only for his or her rental payment obligation, pro-rated to the earlier of: (1) The date the housing provider rents the unit to a new tenant or party who succeeds to the tenant’s rights under the original agreement; or (2) Fourteen days after the request for the release. (g) This section shall not affect section 2908 of the Housing Regulations of the District of Columbia, effective August 11, 1955 (C.O. 55-1503; 14 DCMR § 308 through § 311), or the tenant’s liability for delinquent, unpaid rent, or other sums owed to the housing provider before the lease was terminated by the tenant under this section.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.07 establishes a process by which a tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense — or who is the parent or guardian of a minor victim — may terminate a rental agreement early without the usual lease-break penalties. To qualify, the tenant must provide the housing provider with either a court order issued under § 16-1005 or documentation signed by a qualified third party (such as a law enforcement officer, health professional, or domestic violence counselor) confirming that the offense was reported. The release from the lease takes effect no later than 14 days after the housing provider receives the required written notice and documentation, or sooner if a new tenant moves in. The tenant remains responsible only for prorated rent through the earlier of those two events, and the request must be made within 90 days of the reported incident.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3505.07, housing providers are required to release a qualifying tenant from their rental agreement upon receiving proper written notice of termination along with either a qualifying court order or documentation signed by a qualified third party. A compliant operator generally processes the release within 14 days of receiving complete documentation, refrains from imposing standard lease-break penalties on the departing tenant, and limits any rent claim to the prorated amount owed through the earlier of the 14-day period or the start of a new tenancy. Housing providers should also be aware that pre-existing delinquent rent or other sums owed before the termination remain collectible under § 42-3505.07(g).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3505.07 gives tenants who are victims of intrafamily offenses — or parents or guardians of minor victims — the right to exit a lease early without standard early-termination penalties, provided they submit the required documentation within 90 days of the reported incident. Tenants exercising this right generally gather either a court order under § 16-1005 or a signed statement from a qualified third party such as a law enforcement officer, domestic violence counselor, or health professional, and deliver it to the housing provider along with written notice of termination. Tenants who believe a housing provider is not honoring this provision may consider reaching out to a tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate to understand available enforcement paths.
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.
Effective Timeline
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