14 DCMR § 14-4705
NOTICE OF INTENT TO CONVERT
Operative Text
4705.1 The owner shall provide each of the tenants or subtenants of the housing accommodation at least one hundred twenty (120) days notice of intent to convert to cooperative or condominium ownership. The notice shall be in a form approved by the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office, and shall set forth the rights of tenants and subtenants pursuant to the Act. 4705.2 A tenant may not waive the right to receive a notice of intent before an owner has requested an election pursuant to § 4701. 4705.3 The one hundred twenty (120) day notice of intent to convert shall be sent by first class mail to each tenant or subtenant, and copies shall be submitted to the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office. 4705.4 The one hundred twenty (120) day notice of intent to convert shall be given no sooner than ten (10) business days after incorporation as a housing cooperative, or no sooner than ten (10) business days after the condominium is registered. 4705.5 During the first sixty (60) days of the notice period, each of the tenants or subtenants shall have the exclusive right to contract for the purchase of the unit occupied by him or her on terms and conditions at least as favorable as those being offered by the owner to the general public. 4705.6 If the notice of intent to convert specifies a date by which the apartment unit shall be vacated, then the notice shall constitute and be the equivalent of a valid statutory notice to vacate, so long as the date to vacate is no sooner than one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of the notice and the tenant or subtenant has received a full sixty (60) days to contract for his or her unit. 4705.7 The owner shall give the tenant or subtenant thirty (30) days written notice to vacate no sooner than ninety (90) days after the tenant has received the one hundred twenty (120) day notice of intent to convert, or after the expiration of the sixty (60) day right to purchase period, whichever is later. 4705.8 A notice to vacate shall be sent by first class mail and copies shall be submitted to the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office. 4705.9 No notice to vacate in connection with the conversion of a housing accommodation to condominium or cooperative shall be sent to any low income elderly tenant who qualifies for a statutory tenancy pursuant to § 208 of the Act unless one (1) or more of the following conditions exists: (a) The tenant violates an obligation of the tenancy and fails to correct the violation within thirty (30) days after receiving notice of the violation from the owner; (b) A court of competent jurisdiction has determined that the tenant has performed an illegal act within the rental unit or housing accommodation; or (c) The tenant fails to pay rent.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4705, when a housing accommodation is being converted to cooperative or condominium ownership, each tenant and subtenant must receive at least 120 days' advance written notice sent by first-class mail in a form approved by the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office. During the first 60 days of that notice period, tenants hold an exclusive right to purchase their own unit on terms no less favorable than those offered to the general public. Low-income elderly tenants who qualify for a statutory tenancy are shielded from vacate notices except in specific circumstances such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners planning a conversion covered by D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4705 generally send the 120-day notice of intent by first-class mail no sooner than ten business days after incorporation or registration, using a form approved by the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office, and submit copies to that office. A separate 30-day written notice to vacate is issued no sooner than 90 days after the initial notice or after the 60-day purchase period expires, whichever is later. Compliant operators do not send vacate notices to qualifying low-income elderly tenants unless one of the enumerated conditions—such as nonpayment of rent or an uncorrected lease violation—has been met.
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. § 14-4705 gives tenants and subtenants the right to at least 120 days' notice before a conversion, and that right cannot be waived before an owner requests an election. For the first 60 days, tenants hold an exclusive opportunity to purchase their occupied unit on terms at least as favorable as those offered to the public. Tenants who believe these protections have been violated may file a complaint with the Conversion and Sale Regulatory Office or consult a tenant-rights organization 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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