FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau is proposing changes to a major piece of housing legislation – changes that will create predictability for building owners and developers, encourage new housing investment in the District, and protect the rights of tenants to negotiate when residential buildings go up for sale.

Nadeau circulated a summary and draft language of proposed changes to the RENTAL Act to fellow Councilmembers Tuesday morning. The Act was originally proposed by Mayor Bowser and was amended by the Housing Committee. It contains provisions on evictions, the makeup of the D.C. Housing Authority Board, and changes to the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.

“TOPA is a fundamental protection for tenants and with these proposed changes we have an opportunity to make the process work better for everybody, to increase housing production, and maintain the economic opportunities that TOPA presents for tenants,” Nadeau said.

Nadeau’s proposed changes include accelerating TOPA transactions; prohibiting future extensions of TOPA timelines; exempting all new construction from TOPA for the first 10 years; and providing clarity about who is and is not a “tenant” for the purposes of TOPA. The proposed amendment would also remove limitations on the conditions for which tenants could negotiate.

Nadeau’s proposed changes focus exclusively on the section of the RENTAL Act that deals with TOPA. Other proposed amendments that deal with other elements of the legislation are expected. The Council is scheduled to take up the RENTAL Act, originally proposed by the Mayor and amended by the Housing Committee, on Monday.

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