District of ColumbiaB26-0196Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Tenant Payment Plan Phasing Emergency Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Trayon White Sr. (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Eviction and collection limits during COVID

From March 11, 2020 to July 25, 2022, landlords could not file eviction or collection cases for unpaid rent. They first had to offer and approve a payment plan under the law. Filings were allowed only if you later defaulted on the plan.

Rent payment plans during COVID period

From March 11, 2020 to July 25, 2022, landlords had to offer rent payment plans to eligible tenants. Plans cover gross rent and other lease charges that came due in that period. The default term is at least one year with equal monthly payments, unless you ask for a shorter or different schedule. Landlords cannot require lump sums, or charge fees, interest, or penalties to enter a plan. They must put terms in writing, allow extra payments, and not report plan-covered rent as delinquent. Plans cannot waive your legal or lease rights, and landlords must tell tenants how to apply online or by phone. Applications must be approved if you show COVID‑19 hardship and sign the plan.

Who qualified for COVID rent plans

You qualify if you told your landlord you could not pay because of the COVID‑19 public health emergency. For businesses, your leased space must be under 6,500 square feet. Franchisees do not qualify unless the franchise is owned by a District resident. The law defines the COVID‑19 emergency by Mayor’s Orders 2020‑045 and 2020‑046 and their extensions. These rules set who could get a payment plan.

Complaints and records for denied plans

Landlords must keep all payment‑plan applications for at least three years. If you ask, they must share your application with the Rent Administrator or Tenant Advocate for homes, or with Licensing and Consumer Protection for businesses. If a plan is denied, you can file a written complaint with the proper agency. Residential complaints go to the Office of Administrative Hearings.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Trayon White Sr.
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 11 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2025

Final Reading