14 DCMR § 14-1910
PAYMENT OF TENANT RENT AND TENANT ASSISTANCE
Operative Text
1910.1 Tenant rent shall be payable by the tenant to the housing provider under the terms of the dwelling lease executed by both the tenant and housing provider, except as required in § 1910.2. 1910.2 When a tenant’s income is derived from the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, as verified by DCHA, the tenant shall be requested to participate in the District’s Vendor Payments Program. If the tenant participates in the Vendor Payments Program, tenant rent shall be paid by the Vendor Payments Program directly to the housing provider. 1910.3 Tenant Assistance Payments shall be payable by DCHA to the housing provider under the terms of the Tenant Assistance Contract executed by both DCHA and the housing provider.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1910, tenant rent is generally paid directly to the housing provider according to the terms of the signed dwelling lease. However, when a tenant's income comes from the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program and is verified by the DC Housing Authority (DCHA), the tenant may be asked to participate in the District's Vendor Payments Program, through which rent is paid directly to the housing provider on the tenant's behalf. Separately, any Tenant Assistance Payments are made by DCHA to the housing provider under the terms of a Tenant Assistance Contract.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1910, compliant housing providers maintain a clear record of the executed dwelling lease that governs how and when tenant rent is received. When a tenant participates in the Vendor Payments Program, the housing provider receives rent directly from that program rather than from the tenant, and should ensure their records reflect this payment arrangement. Housing providers who have executed a Tenant Assistance Contract with DCHA should track Tenant Assistance Payments separately, as those are remitted by DCHA under the terms of that contract.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1910 establishes that your rent obligations are governed by your signed dwelling lease, but if your income is derived from the AFDC Program, DCHA may ask you to participate in the Vendor Payments Program, which would send your rent directly to your housing provider. Participation in the Vendor Payments Program is something you are "requested" to do, and understanding how that process works can help you keep track of your rental payment status. Tenants who have questions about how these payment arrangements affect their rights may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or contacting DCHA for clarification on how § 14-1910 applies to their 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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation