D.C. Code tit. 6, ch. 7 § 6-731.01
Prohibited.
Operative Text
Notwithstanding any other provision of law except §§ 6-731.02 and 6-731.03 , no person shall, during the period of time after the giving of a notice to vacate any rental unit (as defined by Chapter 35 of Title 42 ) and before the actual vacation of such unit, cause any alteration to the structure, plumbing apparatus, or electrical apparatus of the housing accommodation (as defined by Chapter 35 of Title 42 ) in which such unit is located, the result of which alteration is to cause such rental unit to come to be in substantial violation (or, if already in substantial violation, to be in greater violation) of the housing regulations of the District of Columbia for a period of time in excess of 24 hours; provided, that it shall not be a defense to an allegation of a violation of this section that the notice to vacate was invalid.
D.C. Code § 6-731.01 prohibits anyone from making changes to a housing accommodation's structure, plumbing, or electrical systems during the window between when a notice to vacate is issued and when the tenant actually leaves, if those changes cause the rental unit to fall into substantial violation of D.C. housing regulations for more than 24 hours—or worsen an existing substantial violation. The rule applies regardless of whether the notice to vacate itself was legally valid. This provision is designed to prevent deliberate deterioration of living conditions as a means of pressuring tenants to leave.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 6-731.01, property owners and managers who have issued a notice to vacate must be especially careful about any construction, plumbing, or electrical work undertaken during the period before the tenant actually moves out. Compliant operators ensure that any alterations to the housing accommodation do not push the affected rental unit into substantial violation of D.C. housing regulations, or deepen an existing violation, for longer than 24 hours. Notably, the statute removes the defense that the underlying notice to vacate was invalid, so the prohibition applies even if the notice is later found to be defective.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 6-731.01 gives tenants protection against deliberate or negligent alterations to their building's structure, plumbing, or electrical systems that cause housing-code violations during the period after a notice to vacate is issued. If a tenant believes a landlord has made such alterations and the unit has fallen into substantial violation of D.C. housing regulations as a result, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the District of Columbia's housing inspection authorities or raising the violation as a defense or counterclaim in any related legal proceeding. Consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. housing law can help a tenant understand which options may be available in a given situation.
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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