14 DCMR § 14-307
PROHIBITION OF RETALIATORY ACTS AGAINST TENANTS
Operative Text
307.1 No action or proceeding to recover possession of a habitation may be brought against a tenant, nor shall an owner otherwise cause a tenant to quit a habitation involuntarily, in retaliation for any of the tenant’s actions listed in § 307.3. 307.2 No demand for an increase in rent from the tenant, nor decrease in the services to which the tenant has been entitled, nor increase in the obligations of a tenant shall be made in retaliation against a tenant for any of the tenant’s actions listed in § 307.3. 307.3 This section prohibits the taking of any of the actions set forth in this section in retaliation against the tenant for any of the following actions by a tenant: (a) A good faith complaint or report concerning housing deficiencies made to the owner or a governmental authority, directly by the tenant or through a tenant organization; (b) The good faith organization of a tenant organization or membership in a tenant organization; (c) The good fait assertion of rights under this subtitle, including rights under §§ 301 and 302 of this chapter, or § 101 of chapter 1.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-307, housing providers in the District of Columbia are prohibited from taking adverse actions against tenants in response to certain protected activities. These prohibited retaliatory acts include initiating eviction proceedings, forcing a tenant to leave involuntarily, raising rent, reducing services, or increasing tenant obligations. The protection applies when a tenant has made a good-faith complaint about housing conditions, joined or organized a tenant association, or asserted rights granted under the applicable subtitle.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-307 generally ensure that any decision to pursue eviction, adjust rent, modify services, or change tenant obligations is grounded in legitimate, documented, non-retaliatory reasons. Compliant property managers maintain records that demonstrate the business basis for such actions, particularly when a tenant has recently filed a housing complaint, participated in a tenant organization, or invoked statutory rights. Keeping clear documentation of the timeline and rationale for any adverse action helps distinguish lawful management decisions from conduct that could be characterized as retaliatory.
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. § 14-307 gives tenants in the District of Columbia protection against eviction, rent increases, service reductions, or added obligations imposed in response to protected activities such as reporting housing deficiencies, joining a tenant organization, or asserting legal rights. If a tenant believes an owner has taken one of these adverse actions in retaliation, that belief may be raised as a defense in an eviction proceeding or pursued through a complaint with a relevant District agency. Tenant-rights organizations in D.C. can help individuals understand what documentation or steps are generally associated with asserting protections under this provision.
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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