14 DCMR § 14-1926
VOLUNTARY TENANT MOVES
Operative Text
1926.1 DCHA shall not restrict voluntary tenant moves from one (1) unit to another. 1926.2 A tenant shall move in accordance with the terms of the tenant’s lease in order to continue assistance. Before assistance may begin in the new unit, the previous housing provider shall certify that the tenant has done the following: (a) Satisfied all financial obligations to the provider; and (b) Vacated the unit in accordance with the lease; including required notice.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 § 14-1926, the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) is prohibited from blocking a tenant from voluntarily transferring from one assisted unit to another. However, housing assistance does not automatically follow a tenant to a new unit — the move must be carried out in compliance with the existing lease, and the prior housing provider must formally certify that the tenant settled all financial obligations and properly vacated the unit, including giving any required notice. Only after that certification is complete can assistance begin at the new location.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 14-1926, housing providers play a direct role in enabling or delaying a tenant's move to a new assisted unit. A compliant housing provider generally documents whether a departing tenant has met all financial obligations — such as outstanding rent or fees — and whether the unit was vacated in accordance with the lease terms, including proper notice. Providers who complete this certification process accurately and promptly help ensure that assistance transitions smoothly, while those who fail to certify or certify inaccurately may create complications in the assistance process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 14-1926 establishes that DCHA cannot stand in the way of a tenant who voluntarily chooses to move to a different assisted unit. To keep housing assistance uninterrupted, a tenant generally needs to follow the terms of their current lease when leaving — including giving proper notice and clearing any financial obligations with the current housing provider, who must then certify compliance before assistance can begin at the new unit. Tenants who believe their move rights under § 14-1926 are being improperly restricted may consider reaching out to DCHA directly or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. housing assistance programs.
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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