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Office of the Tenant Advocate

Due to COVID-19, the office is closed to walk-ins until further notice.
Please call: (202) 719-6560 or use " Ask the Chief Tenant Advocate " for assistance.

Agency Home Responsive

Tenant Tutorial Videos

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

COVID-19 State of Emergency & Tenant Rights/Services

District’s tenants rights and available services during the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

COVID-19 Rental Assistance Programs

The Public Health Emergency (”Emergency”) has put a financial burden on renters in the District of Columbia.

Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) helps low-income, District residents facing housing emergencies. A housing emergency is when immediate action is needed to avoid homelessness, to re-establish a home or to prevent eviction.

OTA Summit 2021

Watch the lively and thoughtful discussion about the opportunities and challenges of living in neighborhoods that are rapidly changing.

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.

Tenant Summit Videos

The Tenant Summit is an event that the Office of the Tenant Advocate hosts every fall to educate the tenants of the District of Columbia on the current local and federal legislation and how it will affect the tenant community.

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

Visit agency-related reports

Legal Resources

Visit legal resources

OTA on Twitter

Tweets by @OTAatDC

Latest

Press Releases

Nov 22 2021

Certain Tenants May Respond to STAY DC Applications Until December 6, 2021

Tenants can respond to STAY DC applications until 6 pm on December 6, 2021, if those applications...

Aug 18 2021

Congress Expands Monthly Payments through the Federal Child Tax Credit

As a part of the American Rescue Plan enacted in March, Congress expanded the Federal Child Tax...

Aug 6 2021

Legislation Enacted Phasing Out the Eviction Moratoria and Other COVID Tenant Protections

On Saturday, July 24th, the Mayor signed an executive order ending the Public Health Emergency (PHE...

May 7 2021

Eviction Moratorium Amendment

Apr 30 2021

Federal Public Housing and Affordable Housing Bills Introduced in the US Congress

The following three public housing bills were introduced in Congress in April.

Office of the Tenant Advocate - OTA

Office Hours
Telephone Intakes: M-F, 8:45 am-4:45 pm, Walk-ins: M-TH, 9 am-4 pm; except holidays

Connect With Us
2000 14th Street, NW, Suite 300 North, Washington, DC 20009
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.