Local lawmakers in Washington D.C. have decided to delay their first vote on a comprehensive bill intended to reform the city’s landlord-tenant laws.
Initially scheduled for Monday, this pivotal vote is now set to take place at the council’s July 28 meeting.
Committee on Housing Chair Robert White stood as the sole member opposing the postponement.
The legislation, known as the Rental Act, was proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in February, backed by the real estate industry, aiming to tackle significant rent delinquencies that threaten landlords’ financial stability.
The bill is also seen as a measure to enhance D.C.’s appeal to property investors.
Among the proposed reforms is a controversial alteration to the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which would exempt buildings from TOPA for their first 25 years after construction or following a substantial renovation.
Additionally, changes to the legal eviction process were included to expedite eviction proceedings.
However, White’s committee amended the original proposed legislation, shortening the TOPA exemption from 25 years to 15 years and removing certain eviction process changes.
These alterations drew criticism from both Mayor Bowser and various industry groups, who claimed that such modifications substantially weakened key components of the bill.
Mayor Bowser expressed concern that the committee’s actions amounted to “gutting” the bill, while the Apartment and Office Building Association argued that the revisions severely weakened vital aspects of the legislation.
The Small Multifamily Owners Association also voiced similar sentiments, stating that the modifications diluted the effectiveness of the proposed reforms.
During a council meeting on Monday, Council Member Brianne Nadeau advocated for the two-week delay, stressing the importance of allowing time for further input from D.C.’s Office of the Tenant Advocate and landlords.
She noted that several constituencies had expressed the need for more time to refine the bill.
Council Members Matthew Frumin and Brooke Pinto echoed her concerns, with Frumin suggesting that the council would benefit from stepping back to address various issues.
Conversely, White contended that his committee had conducted sufficient work and public meetings to arrive at a solid piece of legislation.
He cautioned that the delay might hinder the chances of holding two votes before the council’s August recess, a timeline he believed was crucial.
“The people we represent deserve better,” said White.
He emphasized the urgent need to act on housing costs, accusing the council of consistently delaying action on important legislation.
Yet, he also mentioned his willingness to collaborate with colleagues on potential changes over the next two weeks.
Deputy Mayor Nina Albert expressed hope that additional discussions would steer the bill closer to its original form.
“Tabling the legislation provides the Council with another opportunity to restore critical provisions to the bill,” she stated.
Albert urged members to work collaboratively with the administration to amend the legislation to faithfully support and strengthen D.C.’s affordable housing system.
SMOA CEO Dean Hunter viewed the delay as a positive outcome, reiterating that passing the bill in its current form would have been detrimental.
“We need to take the time to ensure we do no more harm to the industry,” he remarked.
Lisa Mallory, the CEO of AOBA, acknowledged the necessity of refining the bill.
“I urge the Council to use this additional time to fully address the structural failures of our legal system that have buried residents in debt and contributed to higher eviction rates,” she stated, pressing for urgency without further delays.
On a related note, the council successfully approved the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget with the first of two votes during the same meeting.
This budget includes public funding allocated for a new Commanders stadium on the RFK site, although the complete stadium deal has yet to be approved.
A separate hearing on the stadium deal is anticipated later this month.
image source from：bisnow
