Housing

The RENTAL Act of 2025 (B 26-0164) aims to stabilize Washington, D.C.'s affordable housing market by modifying pandemic-era housing policies. It directly affects low-income tenants (expanding eligibility for rent assistance to households earning up to 50% of area median income), landlords, and housing authorities. Key provisions include increasing Local Rent Supplement Program access, reforming emergency rental aid rules, strengthening tenant safety protections for violent offenses, streamlining eviction court processes, and preserving the DC Housing Authority's STAR Board structure. The bill also modernizes tenant protection laws and gives housing officials new authority to convert vacant properties into affordable housing.

This temporary D.C. bill clarifies that rental units participating in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program are exempt from the District’s rent stabilization rules. It amends the 1985 Rental Housing Act to explicitly include LIHTC units in the exemption, removing ambiguity about their status. The change directly affects housing providers who receive LIHTC tax credits, ensuring they are not subject to rent stabilization requirements. The law expires 225 days after enactment and does not create new policy - it only clarifies an existing exemption.

This bill clarifies that rental units participating in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program are exempt from the District of Columbia's Rent Stabilization Program. It amends the Rental Housing Act to explicitly include LIHTC units in the exemption, removing ambiguity about their status. This directly affects landlords who receive LIHTC tax credits, ensuring these units are not subject to rent stabilization rules. The change is retroactive to the existing law but takes effect immediately as an emergency measure, remaining valid for 90 days.

This resolution clarifies that Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rental units in DC are exempt from the District’s Rent Stabilization Program, directly affecting 99 buildings housing over 11,000 units. It responds to a court decision that removed this exemption, which could force these properties to comply with DC’s rent rules instead of federal HUD limits (capping annual rent increases at 5% or 10% max). The bill explicitly amends the Rental Housing Act to maintain the existing rent structure agreed upon at lease signing, preserving affordability without raising rents. This prevents potential financial defaults on LIHTC properties and supports ongoing affordable housing preservation.