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Office of the Tenant Advocate

Agency Home Responsive

OTA Has Moved

Our offices have moved to a new location at 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 6200.

2025 rental application fees capped at $53

Per the 6.5% increase in the CPI-U in 2025, the Rental Housing Commission has determined that the maximum rental housing application fee is $53 for 2025.

2025 Caps on Rent Control Increases

The Rental Housing Commission (RHC) has published the rent increase caps for rent control year 2025 based on the regional SS-COLA 2.5% cap for elderly/disability tenants under rent control and 4.8% (CPI-W + 2%) for other tenants under rent control.

Tenant Resource Guide

Download the Tenant Resource Guide here, including information on government resources, court resources, legal resources, DC Housing Authority resources, rental housing search assistance, and housing-related financial assistance.

Tenant Tutorial Videos

Please view OTA’s tutorial videos on subjects such as rent increases, housing code violations, and TOPA, among others.

OTA’s 2024 Rent Increase Cap Calculator

Need to check whether your rent increase for Rent Control Year 2024 (May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2025) is lawful? Use this helpful tool!

Talk to Your Tenant Advocate

Do you have a question about your tenant rights? Get help today. Speak to your Tenant Advocate. Meet with an Advocate, ask a question online, or just give us a call.

Featured Services

OTA Housing Assistance and Community Service

Contact OTA if you have questions on landlord disputes and other housing issues.

Emergency Housing

Contact OTA if you have questions about financial assistance for emergency housing.

OTA Legal Representation

Contact OTA to find out what types of legal representation is available to you.

Latest

Press Releases

Jan 17 2025

Rental Housing Commission Publishes Rental Application Fee Cap for 2025

Under Law 24-115, the “Eviction Record Sealing Authority and Fairness in Renting ...

Jan 17 2025

RHC Publishes New Rent Increase Caps: 2.5% for Elderly/Disability Tenants; 4.8% for Other Rent-controlled Units

The Rental Housing Commission (RHC) has published the 2025 change in the regional consumer price...

Nov 26 2024

Modified District Government Services for Thanksgiving

(Washington, DC) – On Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29, the District...

Nov 18 2024

OTA has relocated to 899 North Capitol Street, NE

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) has relocated to...

Nov 7 2024

Modified District Government Services for Veterans Day

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, November 11, the District Government will observe Veterans Day...

Office of the Tenant Advocate - OTA

Office Hours
We are not accepting walk-ins. Telephone intakes only: M-F, 8:45 am-4:45 pm.

Connect With Us
899 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 6200, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 719-6560
Fax: (202) 719-6586
TTY: 711

Ask the Chief Tenant Advocate

Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

DHCD Educational Program on Rent Control

Last Date:

The Department of Housing and Community Development will present an educational program on rent control as part of its educational series. The training will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at DHCD’s housing resource center located at 1800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE. Attached below is the program flyer.