14 DCMR § 14-1902
HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS
Operative Text
1902.1 Units assisted under the program shall be decent, safe and sanitary and in substantial compliance with the Housing Code governing the condition of residential premises at the time assistance begins and throughout the term of the Tenant Assistance Contract. 1902.2 Units shall be inspected by DCHA prior to tenant admission to determine substantial compliance with Housing Code governing the condition of residential premises. Units that do not meet the standards described in District regulations may not be approved until corrective action is taken by the housing provider as evidenced by a re- inspection of the unit.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1902 establishes that housing units participating in the assisted housing program must meet a baseline of being decent, safe, and sanitary, and must substantially comply with the District's Housing Code from the moment assistance begins and for the entire duration of the Tenant Assistance Contract. Before a tenant moves in, the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is required to inspect the unit to verify it meets these standards. If a unit fails inspection, it cannot be approved for the program until the housing provider makes the necessary corrections and the unit passes a re-inspection.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14-1902, housing providers who participate in the assisted housing program are generally expected to ensure their units meet Housing Code standards before DCHA conducts its pre-admission inspection. Compliant operators typically address any code deficiencies promptly and arrange for re-inspection to demonstrate that corrective action has been taken before a unit can be approved. Maintaining the unit in decent, safe, and sanitary condition throughout the entire term of the Tenant Assistance Contract is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time requirement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-1902 gives tenants in the assisted housing program the assurance that their unit must be inspected by DCHA and found to substantially comply with the District's Housing Code before they are admitted. If a unit does not meet these standards, it cannot be approved until the housing provider corrects the deficiencies, meaning tenants have a baseline protection against being placed in substandard housing. Tenants who believe their unit has fallen out of compliance during the term of their Tenant Assistance Contract may consider contacting DCHA directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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