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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Charles Allen 2
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Councilmember M atthew Frumin Councilmember C hristina Henderson 6
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Councilmember J aneese Lewis George Councilmember B rianne K. Nadeau 10
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Councilmember Z achary Parker Councilmember B rooke Pinto 14
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A BILL 17
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 22
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To amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to prohibit housing providers from separately 27
charging tenants for the utility charges accrued by the housing accommodation for its 28
common areas, and to require that housing providers give notification to a tenant of any 29
unpaid amounts owed to the housing provider within 45 days after vacating a rental unit 30
and to obtain evidence that the tenant was served with the notification at least 60 days 31
prior to sending the unpaid amount to a debt collector. 32
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 34
act may be cited as the “ Fair Housing Practices Amendment Act of 2025”. 35
Sec. 2. The Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6- 10; D.C. 36
Official Code § 42- 3501.01 et seq.), is amended by adding new sections 511 and 512 to read as 37
follows: 38
“§ 511. Prohibition on separately b illing a housing accommodation’s utility charges to 39
tenants. 40
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“(a) A housing provider shall not separately charge tenants, other than through monthly 41
base rent, for the utility charges accrued by the housing accommodation for its common areas. 42
“(b) For the purposes of this section, the term “ utility” means: 43
“(1) Electricity usage; 44
“(2) Gas usage; 45
“(3) Wastewater and sewage disposal service usage; and 46
“(4) Water consumption or usage.” 47
Ҥ 512. Notification to tenant of unpaid amounts upon vacating rental unit. 48
“(a) Within 45 days after termination of the tenancy, the housing provider shall notify the 49
tenant in writing, either personally or by certified mail at the tenant's last known address, of any 50
unpaid amounts due to the housing provider pursuant to the terms of the lease agreement, which 51
may include : 52
“(1) Unpaid rent arrearages; 53
“(2) Damage to the rental unit; 54
“(3) A cleaning fee imposed at moveout; or 55
“(4) Charges to the housing provider for removing furnishings and items left by 56
the tenant at moveout. 57
“(b) For paragraphs (a)(2) or (4) of this section, the housing provider shall accompany the 58
notification with photographs or other evidence sufficiently supporting the housing provider’s 59
claim for unpaid amounts. 60
“(c) The housing provider shall obtain evidence that the tenant was served with such 61
notice required by subsection (a) of this section at least 60 days prior to sending the unpaid 62
amount to a debt collector, as defined in D.C. Official Code § 28- 3814(b)(5).”. 63
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Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 64
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 65
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 66
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1- 301.47a). 67
Sec. 4. Effective date. 68
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 69
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 70
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 71
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 72
Columbia Register. 73