Can I fight my sleezy landlord in Washington D.C.?

Question

Here are the facts. My landlord owns multiple houses in D.C. I live in a house that he owns, which has 5 rooms. There is 1 main lease for a term of 1 year. 4 of us sublet through the main lease holder. Our rent is $3700. Our landlord does not have a business license. The lease is scheduled to expire at the end of August.

The landlord orally told us that he will not renew the lease with us. We have started looking for new places to live. I found on craigslist his advertisement. He intends to increase the rent from $3700 to $4700 for the new tenants.

My question is (1) have we suffered an "eviction" under D.C. law because he told us to leave without giving us the option to renew or go to an automatic month to month ? (2) Based on these facts, are we entitled to some other damages based on the facts above?

Answer 1

You need to update yourself on DC's rent control laws.  They were revised in 2006.  It appears that, if the landlord makes substantial improvements to the property, he is exempt from those statutes.

You might want to contact the DC agency at the URL provided, to determine whether or not your landlord is in violation.  Those folks can further assist you.

Answer 2

I looked over the laws and could find nothing that indicated a landlord HAS to renew a lease against their will.   Nothing.   When it expires it expires.

Some (60%) of the housing is rent controlled, but only the amount charged.    I have no way of determining if it is a rent control area, but it does not sound like it, it sounds like they control the low rent areas, not high end.   But, this would not be your problem anyway, was you are not having your rent increased.

Licensing and inspections are for HUD housing, it is not required for housing that is not subsidized.  

Answer 3

a; I am not an expert in DE RE LAW BUT I am on

same law in AZ.

b. no landlord anywhere, if a guarantee of a lease extension is not in the original lease, must extend any lease.  

c; if you wish to hinder him, ask the city if he is legally

permitted to rent rooms from that address; if not, you can sue

for all your rent money back; a lack of a biz license is

a different thing, it has nothing to do with the building inspector's

acceptance of the rooms as safe to rent.

What has he done to make himself sleazy?

Answer 4

If you're just going to tell everyone that doesn't answer with what you want to hear that they're wrong then what's the point of answering?

Most of these answers are, in fact, correct.  Rent control laws apply to renewing your lease, not brand new leases.  Why would they?  Landlords do get SOME rights.

Even if he doesn't have a business license what difference does that make in this situation?  If you pursue that line of thinking it seems that the entire transaction could be null and void, you'd have to move, he gets a license then rents it for what he wants anyway.

To actually answer your questions:

1) You have NOT suffered an eviction.  Most leases have a clause stating that a notice of non-renewal may be given by the landlord within some required time frame (usually 30 days before expiration).

2) what other damages?  You don't actually list any damages in the statement that you refer to?  You might get him in trouble based on the business license aspect, but I don't think you'll be entitled to anything.

Answer 5

Unfortunately you can do nothing in this situation. You signed a lease saying it will be over in August. A landlord is not required by law to offer you a month to month, nor is he required by law to give you the option to renew.

A lease is a contract, and if the contract was set for one year to expire and August, and he allowed you to stay until that time, then he held up his end of the contract.

Also, you do not need a business license or a real estate license to lease or rent out property you own.

Everything he did was perfectly legal and legit.  

Answer 6

Actually, a BBL is NOT needed to rent Property, at least NOT houses. it IS needed to rent Apartments...   http://mblr.dc.gov/information/bbl/index...  ....

No, the Rent Control Laws were changed in 06, and there is no longer a cap on rent... there are Laws covering increases, but, it is possible your provider plans on leaving the house vacant, to facilitate repairs, and for a period of time to exceed 12 months, at which point, YES, he can raise the rent to 4700, vice the current 3700.

There are other issues with your claim, I suggest highly, very highly, that you seek guidance elsewhere, possibly a Lawyer, who will be happy to tell you IF you have recourse.  http://www.nmhc.org/Content/ServeFile.cf...  http://www.howardfairhousing.org/additio...

Answer 7

What your landlord intends to rent the place for AFTER you move out is irrelevant.

1: The landlord does not have an obligation to renew your lease or offer you a month to month tenancy. What you describe is not an eviction. Your lease term is expiring and the landlord expects possession to be returned to him. The landlord is not legally required to give you a reason for not renewing your lease.

Per DC Landlord/Tenant law:

Section 42-3201. Notice to quit--Unnecessary with lease for certain term; landlord's right to immediate possession.

When real estate is leased for a certain term no notice to quit shall be necessary, but the landlord shall be entitled to the possession, without such notice, immediately upon the expiration of the term.

2: No, you are not entitled to anything. You are required to vacate upon the expiration of your lease. If you fail to vacate, the landlord may be able to sue you for damages.

Answer 8

He does not need a business license to rent his own house.

You are not being evicted, he is choosing not to renew your lease, just as you can make that same choice.

You are not suffering any damages, he is not asking you to leave before your lease expires.   You are entitled to a 30 day notice, that is it.   As long as he told you to move by Aug 1 he is clear.   If he told you after the first you can continue to rent in September.