The hot topics that we discuss in professional residential property management circles change all the time. In April, we were all consumed with a couple of important changes that we’ve been watching in the industry and the local market.
Today, we’re summarizing two important things that you need to know about if you’re renting out a home in Washington, D.C. These topics are inspection data and eviction requirements.
Accessing Historical Inspection Data
The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) began in April to give their inspectors all the historical data on the inspections that have been conducted on properties. This will allow those inspectors to see violations from the past, even if they were resolved after being noted. Potentially, this information could be shared with tenants at some point. This is not part of the law just yet, but we think that it may be coming.
Check out the EJF Real Estate Services website, where I have an article on this topic that is more in depth and tells you how to follow the situation as more information becomes available. It includes some helpful links that will direct you to additional resources.
Washington, D.C. Eviction Requirements
Another big topic that we have to talk about is evictions. There are some new eviction requirements that landlords and property owners need to be aware of. If you are not familiar with these new eviction requirements, we recommend that you look them up. We did a video a few months ago on this topic, which is also on our website. However, the law and the process have changed even since then. So, we’re writing a new article which will help clear up any of the confusion you might have. Check out our new and updated article, which includes some helpful and user-friendly infographics.
We want to cover some of the main points right now. Basically, you are now required to provide your tenants with a 21 day notice period prior to filing an eviction in court. And then, you have to provide a post-eviction notice as well. There are additional details and notes on our website, and we also have templates of the forms you might need during this process. You can download those forms and use them yourself, but we always recommend that you talk to an attorney before you use any forms or take any steps towards an eviction. The law includes a lot of requirements and timelines, and a single mistake will set you back and cost you more money.
About EJF Real Estate Service
We’d love to tell you more about us and what we do. At EJF Real Estate, we provide professional management services for investors and landlords throughout Washington, D.C. We bridge the gap between landlords and their tenants by providing professional leasing and management services. We are passionate about what we do, and we are growing our client base. If you ever need professional management services, please contact us at EJF Real Estate Services.
