District of Columbia Administrative Code

1500 PURPOSE AND SCOPE 1500.1 This chapter shall provide the minimum procedures and guidelines for implementation of D.C. Law 3-45, the “Realty Violations Correction Fund Act of 1979,” which authorizes the correction of housing code violations when an owner fails or refuses to co…

1501 PROCEDURES 1501.1 Where no specific time frame for the correction of the violation is contained in the law or regulation under which the violation has occurred, the following factors shall be considered in determining how much time should be given to correct the violation: (…

1502 AUTHORITY TO CORRECT 1502.1 The Director may consider the following factors in determining whether the Department should cause correction of a violation: (a) The status of any current assessments against the property; (b) The financial status of the property including whethe…

1503 EXEMPTIONS FROM ASSESSMENT 1503.1 The Director may waive or defer an assessment of the cost to the District of Columbia of correcting a violation totally or partially upon application of the owner. 1503.2 Except as provided in § 1503.3, the Director may waive or defer the as…

1599 DEFINITIONS 1599.1 When used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meaning ascribed: Director - the Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs or his or her designee. Real Property - any residential or commercial building, or struct…

1700 SCOPE OF PROGRAM 1700.1 Chapters 17 to 21 of this title shall set forth rules governing the operation of the District of Columbia Tenant Assistance Program, under authority of Title III of the District of Columbia Rental Housing Act of 1985, D.C. Law 6-10 (D.C. Official Code…

1701 WAIVER OF RULES 1701.1 Upon determination of good cause, the Director of DCHA may waive any provision under chapters 17 to 21 of the Tenant Assistance Program subject to the statutory limitations of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 and other District laws. Each waiver shall be…

1702 ALLOCATION OF FUNDS 1702.1 For each annual appropriation of funds for the Tenant Assistance Program, the Director is authorized to make tenant assistance payments to support the programs identified in § 1700.3. 1702.2 DCHA shall maintain a system to ensure that payments unde…

1703 EMERGENCY TENANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 1703.1 The Director of DCHA may use funding provided to the Tenant Assistance Program to assist eligible families under an emergency program for the following special purposes: (a) To assist in reuniting eligible families with emergency ho…

1710 RIGHT TO OFFICIAL REVIEW 1710.1 Applicants, participants, and housing providers may request an official review of any DCHA action that affects eligibility, termination from the program, or level of assistance. 1710.2 A request for an official review shall be made directly wi…

1799 DEFINITIONS 1799.1 For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed: Act - the Rental Housing Act of 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10), D.C. Official Code §§ 42-3501.01-3509.04 (2001). Annual Income - the anticipated total income from all …

1800 PUBLIC NOTICE FOR APPLICATION 1800.1 DCHA shall make known to the public through publication in newspapers of general circulation as well as through minority media and other suitable means the availability and nature of rental assistance for lower income families (including …

1801 PRE-APPLICATION 1801.1 For purposes of this section, the term “pre-application” means a prescribed form required to be completed by each person seeking admission to the Tenant Assistance Program. Each pre-application shall be signed by the applicant and mailed to DCHA. 1801.…

1802 WAITING LIST 1802.1 A preliminary finding of eligibility for admission to the Tenant Assistance Program shall be sufficient to place an applicant on the waiting list, in the manner described in § 1802.2. 1802.2 DCHA shall place each eligible applicant on the waiting list. DC…

1803 PREFERENCE FOR APPLICANT SELECTION 1803.1 An applicant whose application for assistance under the program was dated prior to July 21, 1987, shall be a priority applicant and shall be given priority consideration on the waiting list consistent with § 1802.4 if the applicant i…

1804 TENANT SELECTION FROM WAITING LIST AND APPLICATION INTERVIEW 1804.1 When Certificates are available, applicants on the waiting list shall be contacted in writing by DCHA for an application interview in the order in which they appear on the waiting list. 1804.2 DCHA shall ass…

1810 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS AND CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY 1810.1 DCHA shall consider an applicant eligible for rental assistance under this program if the applicant meets the following criteria: (a) Annual income as calculated under the provisions of § 1811 does not exceed the applicab…

1811 INCOME LIMITS 1811.1 To be eligible for admission to the Tenant Assistance Program an applicant shall have an annual income within the limits of lower income families. 1811.2 The limits of lower income families shall be established annually by DCHA and published in the D.C R…

1812 VERIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY, INCOME, AND OTHER INFORMATION 1812.1 All factors related to eligibility and income of program applicants or participants shall be verified by DCHA. Program applicants and participants shall provide to DCHA all documentation and information requir…

1813 OCCUPANCY STANDARDS 1813.1 Occupancy standards for admission and continued participation in the program shall be established in this section to avoid overcrowding, wasted space, and unnecessary Tenant Assistance Payments. All dwelling units assisted under the Tenant Assistan…

1820 CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY 1820.1 DCHA shall issue a Certificate of Eligibility to an applicant who is determined to be eligible and is selected for participation in the program. DCHA shall enter on the Certificate of Eligibility the smallest unit size appropriate for the el…

1821 CERTIFICATE HOLDER’S PACKET 1821.1 DCHA shall, at the time it issues a Certificate of Eligibility to an applicant, provide the applicant a Certificate Holder’s Packet. 1821.2 The Certificate Holder’s Packet shall contain the following information: (a) Request for Lease Appro…

1822 CERTIFICATE HOLDER BRIEFING SESSIONS 1822.1 DCHA shall provide group briefing sessions to explain the program to Certificate Holders. 1822.2 DCHA shall provide to Certificate Holders the following information: (a) Family and housing provider responsibilities under the lease …

1823 HOUSING SEARCH – FINDERS KEEPERS POLICY 1823.1 A family with a Certificate of Eligibility shall be responsible for finding a rental unit suitable to the family’s needs and desires. A family may select the rental unit which it already occupies if the unit qualifies. 1823.2 If…

1899 DEFINITIONS 1899.1 The provisions of § 1799 of this title and the definitions set forth in that section shall be incorporated by reference in this section. AUTHORITY: DC-DCMR Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is subsection 302(e) of the Rental Housing Ac…

1900 HOUSING PROVIDERS 1900.1 DCHA shall invite housing providers, through publication in newspapers of general circulation as well as through minority media and other suitable means, to make dwelling units available for leasing by eligible families. DCHA shall publicize the need…

1901 ELIGIBLE HOUSING UNITS 1901.1 Any privately-owned rental unit located in the District of Columbia, except if described under § 1901.4, may be approved for tenant assistance, if the unit is decent, safe, and sanitary, and in substantial compliance with the Housing Code as det…

1902 HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS 1902.1 Units assisted under the program shall be decent, safe and sanitary and in substantial compliance with the Housing Code governing the condition of residential premises at the time assistance begins and throughout the term of the Tenant Assist…

1906 FAIR MARKET RENTS AND PAYMENT STANDARDS 1906.1 DCHA shall establish fair market rents on an annual basis using the annual fair market rents established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the new construction and substantial rehabilitation Secti…

1907 UTILITY ALLOWANCES 1907.1 A schedule of allowances for tenant-paid utilities (except telephone) shall be established by DCHA based on unit size. 1907.2 Allowances shall be based on average consumption levels and information provided by the D.C. Public Service Commission rega…