14 DCMR § 14-306
WRITTEN RECEIPTS FOR PAYMENTS BY TENANT
Operative Text
306.1 In each lease or rental of a habitation, the owner shall provide written receipts for all monies paid to him or her by the tenant as rent, security, or otherwise, unless the payment is made by personal check. 306.2 Each receipt issued under this section shall state the following: (a) The exact amount received; (b) The date the monies are received; and (c) The purpose of the payment. 306.3 Each receipt shall also state any amounts still due which are attributable to late charges, court costs, or any other such charge in excess of rent. 306.4 If payment is made by personal check, and there is a balance still due which is attributable to late charges, court costs, or any other such charge in excess of rent, the owner shall provide a receipt stating the nature of the charges and the amount due. 306.5 The provisions of this section shall not be subject to any notice requirement of this subtitle.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-306, property owners in the District of Columbia must provide written receipts whenever a tenant pays rent, a security deposit, or any other amount—unless the payment is made by personal check. Each receipt must show the amount received, the date, and the purpose of the payment, and must also disclose any outstanding balance attributable to late charges, court costs, or similar fees. When payment is made by personal check and such a balance remains, the owner must still issue a receipt describing the nature and amount of those outstanding charges.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Compliant operators under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-306 issue written receipts for every non-check payment—capturing the exact dollar amount, the date received, and the payment's purpose. They also document any remaining balance tied to late fees, court costs, or other charges beyond base rent, whether payment was made by check or otherwise. Maintaining organized receipt records for each tenancy helps demonstrate ongoing compliance with this provision.
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 et seq. § 14-306 gives tenants the right to receive a written receipt for any cash or non-check payment made to a landlord, with that receipt detailing the amount, date, and purpose of the payment. If a balance for late charges or court costs remains, tenants are entitled to written notice of those amounts regardless of how payment was made. Tenants who believe this provision has been violated may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization or raising the issue with the District's housing authorities to understand available remedies.
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 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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