14 DCMR § 14-4714
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION CONTAINING TWO TO FOUR UNITS
Operative Text
4714.1 The tenants may respond to the owner’s offer first jointly, then severally. 4714.2 The owner shall afford the tenants jointly a reasonable period to negotiate a contract for sale, and shall require less than ninety (90) days. 4714.3 If, at the end of ninety (90) days, the tenants jointly have not contracted with the owner, the owner shall provide an additional thirty (30) days during which any tenant may contract individually for the purchase of the accommodation. For every day of delay beyond the seven (7) days in which the owner shall provide information as required by §§ 4711.4(c) and (d), the negotiation period shall be extended by one (1) day. 4714.4 The owner shall afford the tenants a reasonable period prior to settlement and shall not require less than ninety (90) days from the date of contract. 4714.5 The owner shall afford an extension of time consistent with a written estimate from a lending institution or agency which normally provides financing if a decision with respect to financing or financial assistance will be made within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of contract. 4714.6 If two hundred forty (240) days elapse from the date of a bona fide offer to sell under this section and the owner has not sold or contracted to sell the accommodation, the owner shall comply anew with the requirements of Title IV of the Act.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4714, when an owner of a two-to-four-unit housing accommodation intends to sell, tenants are given a structured opportunity to purchase the property before it is sold to an outside buyer. Tenants first have up to 90 days to negotiate collectively as a group, followed by an additional 30 days during which individual tenants may pursue a purchase on their own. Once a contract is signed, tenants are entitled to at least 90 days before settlement, with possible extensions if financing decisions are pending within 120 days of the contract date. If 240 days pass without a completed sale or contract, the owner must restart the entire notice and offer process.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners of two-to-four-unit properties in the District of Columbia must carefully follow the timeline established by D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-4714 before completing any sale. Compliant operators typically track the 90-day joint negotiation window, the subsequent 30-day individual tenant window, and the 90-day pre-settlement period, and they document each milestone in writing. Owners should also be aware that delays in providing required disclosures under §§ 4711.4(c) and (d) automatically extend the negotiation period day-for-day, and that failing to close or contract within 240 days triggers a full restart of the statutory offer process.
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. § 14-4714 gives tenants in two-to-four-unit buildings a layered right of first opportunity to purchase their home when the owner decides to sell. Tenants can first act together as a group during a 90-day window, and any individual tenant retains an additional 30 days to pursue a purchase independently if the group does not reach a contract. Tenants who believe an owner has not honored these timelines or has withheld required information may consider raising the violation as a defense in related proceedings, filing a complaint with the D.C. Office of the Tenant Advocate, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with District housing law.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation