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Office of the Tenant Advocate

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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 Tutorial Videos

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

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.

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.

OTA Reports

Scheduled Evictions

Legal Resources

Visit legal resources

OTA on Twitter

Tweets by @OTAatDC

Latest

Press Releases

Apr 11 2025

Modified District Government Services for DC Emancipation Day

(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday April 16, District Government will observe the DC...

Feb 14 2025

Modified District Government Services for Presidents Day

(Washington, DC) – On Monday, February 17, District Government will observe the...

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...

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)

Civil Rights Lawsuit Against HUD Suspension of Small Area Fair Market Rents

Date Released:

Wed, 12/27/2017

Civil rights groups have sued HUD for suspending the obligation on public housing agencies (PHAs) in 23 designated metropolitan areas to implement Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). The DC-VA-MD Metro Area is one of the 23 designated metropolitan areas affected by the suspension.