Ensuring safe and decent housing is an important responsibility of the District of Columbia government. To carry out this responsibility, DCRA must acquaint both tenants and housing providers with the various laws, rules and regulations that govern the maintenance, rents and provision of housing accommodations.
Laws and Regulations
In the District of Columbia, two major laws regulate private residential rental property: the District of Columbia Housing Code and the Rental Housing Act of 1985, as amended. In general, the Housing Code contains the standards by which residential housing must be maintained. The Rental Housing Act of 1985 contains provisions for establishing rents and contract rights of the parties to a residential lease. Regulations pertaining to both laws are contained in Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (14 DCMR).
Complaint Process
Upon receiving a complaint, staff in the Customer Service Center will check records to obtain basic information about the property such as ownership, square footage and lot, and telephone numbers. Having correct information about the property location, ownership, the name and telephone number of the property manager or resident manager will help staff to quickly process your complaint and distribute it to the appropriate Inspection Section or Rental Housing staff person.
Complaints are normally distributed to the Inspection Section during the next workday. However, complaints regarding emergency conditions are forwarded directly to the Inspection Section for immediate action.
Inspections
Once a complaint is received in the Inspection Section, a staff person will attempt to contact the complainant to schedule an inspection date. DCRA schedules inspections in response to complaints or requests involving an occupied housing unit. Because priority is given to serious conditions in occupied housing units, persons submitting complaints regarding exterior conditions are not contacted prior to the inspection.
Interior inspections may alter the date of scheduled exterior inspections Delays in exterior inspections frequently occur during the heating and A/C seasons when interior complaints are numerous.
It is extremely important that upon submitting a complaint or request for inspection that you provide a telephone number where you may be reached during normal working hours.
