# District of Columbia B26-0164: Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025 District of Columbia B26-0164, Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025, is a Council Period 26 (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2026-01-23 (Law L26-0080, Effective from Dec 31, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000613); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0164-26 - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: District of Columbia B26-0164 - State: District of Columbia - Session: Council Period 26 (2025-2026) - Title: Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025 - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-03-03 - Last action: 2026-01-23, Law L26-0080, Effective from Dec 31, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000613 - Sponsors: no sponsor on record - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 21 (153 yes, 113 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 23 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Higher annual pay for housing commissioners: benefit, high. Beginning January 1, 2026, eligible D.C. Housing Authority commissioners receive $8,000 yearly, with an extra $4,000 for the chairperson. Before that date, annual limits are $4,000 for commissioners and an extra $2,000 for the chairperson. Commissioners who are District government employees receive… - Stronger public housing lease and safety rights: benefit, high. The Housing Authority can end public housing leases only for serious or repeated violations of important lease terms. Residents get 30 days’ notice to correct a violation or leave, except when the responsible household head died and nobody remains. Residents have a right to relocation when the Auth… - Certified help and buyers for tenants: benefit, medium. The Mayor certifies tenant support providers skilled in organizing, collective ownership, first-time ownership, financing, or closings. Providers cannot act against tenants or serve them when the provider or an employee has a present or future financial interest. Qualified buyers must show housing… - Clearer sale notices for tenant buyers: benefit, medium. Owners must deliver sale offers to tenants and the Mayor on the same date, with tracked or hand delivery and proof. Offers must explain purchase rights, free training and assistance, and certified providers—or state that none are certified. For occupied units without current or expired written leas… - More transfers trigger tenant purchase rights: benefit, medium. Tenant purchase protections cover more than ordinary property sales. Covered transactions include specified agreements transferring possession and related property interests, qualifying master leases, and similar arrangements. Transfers of company ownership interests also count when they effectivel… - Return rights when housing subsidies change: benefit, medium. When federal housing subsidies are restructured, applicable and practical safeguards protect relocated households’ return rights, including households moved to vouchers after plan submission. Residents and the Authority must jointly plan relocation and continued occupancy before moves, except when… - Stronger safeguards against tenant purchase pressure: benefit, medium. People contacting tenants about sales must disclose owners’ names and addresses, property-related financial interests, and tenants’ right to free training and advice. Before negotiating assignments or waivers, third-party buyers must identify themselves, explain their purchase interest, and say the… - More purchase routes for affordable homes: benefit, low. An authorized housing entity can buy an inclusionary housing unit or help arrange its purchase or sale. The unit must be resold to an eligible household. This provision does not set a sale price, subsidy amount, or new household eligibility standard. - More resident voice in housing decisions: benefit, low. The Authority must develop resident advisory-board training with public housing residents and housing-industry organizations. It must share proposed resolutions at least 24 hours before board meetings and consider advisory input on changes affecting residents. The board must invite advisory reports… - Public housing sale records become accessible: benefit, low. Within one year after the section applies, the Mayor must create a searchable public database covering tenant purchase transactions. It must show offers, tenant groups, buyers, timelines, final sales, outcomes, and transfer notices, and connect with the rent-control database where practical. Databa… - Fewer purchase rights for some renters: cost, medium. Purchase rights vest when tenants receive an offer; tenants who move in after the offer is issued get no rights for it. Properties with 2 to 4 units that are not majority-owned by a business corporation lose most purchase rights, retaining section 409(b) notices and rights. Multifamily transfers ar… - Listed transfers bypass tenant purchase rules: cost, medium. Specified family, estate, foreclosure, tax, bankruptcy, court-ordered, eminent-domain, and organizational transfers do not trigger tenant purchase rules. Exclusions also cover District-owned and specified institutional properties. Certain ownership reallocations qualify only without a new unrelated… - Investor changes can bypass tenant purchases: cost, low. Transfers solely admitting minority investors or letting partners or members leave can be exempt from tenant purchase rules. Incoming investors must contribute the acquired percentage of fair market value. A new investor cannot acquire more ownership for 12 months, and tenants must receive transfer… - Purchase contracts require timely housing filings: cost, low. Agreements under the tenant purchase title, including development agreements, are invalid and unenforceable without required filings. Parties must file the information within 30 days after everyone signs. Filings include address, ward, unit count, sale price, rent-stabilization details, income-rest… - Affordable transfers can bypass tenant purchases: mixed, medium. Some affordable housing transfers bypass tenant purchase rules when the same person or entity keeps control and tenants receive notice. One route applies after the federal credit period ends, with a qualifying affordability commitment already in place. Occupancy, rent, and income limits must then c… - Court rent deposits with tenant defenses: mixed, medium. In possession cases over unpaid rent, either side can request monthly rent deposits into the court registry. On that request, the court must issue a preliminary order using rent shown in the specified rental records. Deposits can continue through the end of the case. The court must explain common d… - Faster crime evictions with tenant defenses: mixed, medium. For covered cases filed after the law’s effective date, landlords must first consider reasonable ways to keep non-offending occupants housed. They must then give at least 10 days’ notice; courts must hold a hearing within 20 days after filing. Tenants can defend themselves based on lack of knowledg… - Shorter eviction deadlines and court flexibility: mixed, medium. For unpaid rent, the minimum notice before filing an eviction case drops from 30 days to 10 days. Covered summonses require at least 14 days, replacing 30 days that excluded Sundays and legal holidays. Covered pre-filing notices require certified mail or tracked delivery, with return receipt reques… - Tenant assignment payments survive moving out: mixed, medium. After the applicable waiting period, tenants can buy with a third party or sell or assign rights on accepted terms. Tenants keep their right to agreed payment even if they move before receiving it. Recipients can reassign rights only to permitted corporations or qualifying partnerships with an owne… - Tenant rights assignments face waiting periods: mixed, medium. Tenant groups in buildings with at least 5 units generally cannot assign purchase rights before a valid offer or for 45 days afterward. Early assignment requires registration papers, incorporation documents, bylaws, majority representation proof, and approved training proof filed before the offer.… - Housing board training and accountability rules: mixed, low. Commissioners must finish initial training within 90 days after appointment or election and at least 4 training hours each quarter. The Authority pays reimbursable training costs up to a board-set maximum. The board elects its chair, meets at least 10 times yearly, needs 5 members for a quorum, and… - Resident housing board seats with limits: mixed, low. The Housing Authority board has 9 members: residents elect 2, and the Mayor appoints 7 with Council approval. Resident seats have deadlines of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2026; mayoral nomination groups have October 1 deadlines in 2025, 2026, and 2027, then every 3 years. Specified appointee… - Housing owners get credits, face earlier deadlines: mixed, low. Owners of qualifying housing projects can receive annual District tax credits up to 9% of qualified basis—the amount used to calculate credits. Qualified projects need federal housing credits awarded after October 1, 2021, and a long-term affordability agreement signed on or after that date. The De… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Cosponsor: Phil Mendelson (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-10-21 | House | Other | fail | 9 | 4 | | | 2025-10-21 | House | Other | fail | 4 | 9 | | | 2025-10-21 | House | Other | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2025-10-21 | House | Final Reading | pass | 10 | 3 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 8 | 5 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 3 | 10 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Final Reading | fail | 10 | 3 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 1 | 12 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 10 | 3 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | pass | 8 | 5 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 13 | 0 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 1 | 12 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | pass | 10 | 3 | | | 2025-09-17 | House | Other | fail | 5 | 8 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | Other | fail | 5 | 7 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | Other | fail | 4 | 8 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | Other | fail | 2 | 10 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | Other | pass | 10 | 2 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | First Reading | pass | 10 | 2 | | | 2025-07-28 | House | Other | fail | 6 | 6 | | | 2025-07-14 | House | Postponed to | pass | 11 | 1 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-01-23: Law L26-0080, Effective from Dec 31, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000613 (House) - 2025-11-21: Act A26-0199 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 012894 (House) - 2025-11-17: Transmitted to Congress (House) - 2025-11-13: Returned from Mayor (House) - 2025-11-13: Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0199 (House) - 2025-10-30: Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Nov 14, 2025 (House) - 2025-10-21: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2025-10-07: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2025-09-17: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2025-07-28: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2025-07-14: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2025-07-09: Committee Mark-up of B26-0164 by the Housing Committee (House) - 2025-05-28: Public Hearing on B26-0164 View Public Hearing Record (House) - 2025-05-09: Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register (House) - 2025-05-06: Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Housing (House) - 2025-03-25: Committee Mark-up of B26-0164 by the Human Services Committee (House) - 2025-03-18: Referred to Committee on Housing, Committee on Human Services, and Committee of the Whole (House) - 2025-03-14: Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0164 Published in the District of Columbia Register (House) - 2025-03-03: B26-0164 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary (House) ## Bill text - Amendment, 2025-10-21: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=225477), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=225478) - Enrollment, 2025-10-21: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Enrollment/B26-0164-Enrollment5.pdf?Id=226250) - Amendment, 2025-09-17: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment6.pdf?Id=222170), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment7.pdf?Id=222171), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment1.pdf?Id=223160), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment10.pdf?Id=223161), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment11.pdf?Id=223162), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment12.pdf?Id=222174), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment13.pdf?Id=223176), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment14.pdf?Id=223177), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment15.pdf?Id=222172), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment16.pdf?Id=222173), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=222175), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=222176), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment4.pdf?Id=222177), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment5.pdf?Id=222178) - Enrollment, 2025-09-17: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Enrollment/B26-0164-Enrollment17.pdf?Id=223905) - Amendment, 2025-07-28: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=218162), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=243615), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment4.pdf?Id=218141), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment5.pdf?Id=218142), [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment6.pdf?Id=218144) - Engrossment, 2025-07-28: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Engrossment/B26-0164-Engrossment8.pdf?Id=218247) - Introduced, 2025-03-03: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Introduction/B26-0164-Introduction.pdf?Id=207671) ## Related bills - B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025 (signed) - B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act of 2025 (signed) - B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) ## Sources - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=225477) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=225478) - [Enrollment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting6/Enrollment/B26-0164-Enrollment5.pdf?Id=226250) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment6.pdf?Id=222170) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment7.pdf?Id=222171) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment1.pdf?Id=223160) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment10.pdf?Id=223161) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment11.pdf?Id=223162) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment12.pdf?Id=222174) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment13.pdf?Id=223176) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment14.pdf?Id=223177) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment15.pdf?Id=222172) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment16.pdf?Id=222173) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=222175) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=222176) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment4.pdf?Id=222177) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment5.pdf?Id=222178) - [Enrollment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting3/Enrollment/B26-0164-Enrollment17.pdf?Id=223905) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment2.pdf?Id=218162) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment3.pdf?Id=243615) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment4.pdf?Id=218141) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment5.pdf?Id=218142) - [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Amendment/B26-0164-Amendment6.pdf?Id=218144) - [Engrossment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Meeting2/Engrossment/B26-0164-Engrossment8.pdf?Id=218247) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57311/Introduction/B26-0164-Introduction.pdf?Id=207671) ## Related - [B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0047-26) - [B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amend…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0785-26) - [B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0663-26) - [B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0181-26) - [B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Correcti…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0735-26) - [B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarificati…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0760-26) - [District of Columbia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia/bills) - [District of Columbia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0164-26 (as of 2026-11-04).