High-Rise Life: Rents won’t rise this year for some DC renters

by Barbara Cline

Big news for seniors and disabled renters leasing rent-controlled apartments.

On January 29th, the DC Office of the Tenant Advocate announced the 2016 standard rent increase for both groups will be 0% – yes, ZERO – and for only the second time in 35 years.

That means no rent increase at all for eligible renters during the period beginning May 1st, 2016 and ending April 30th, 2017. All others leasing rent-controlled apartments will see a 2% rent increase.

Are you registered?

Only seniors (aged 62 and older) and disabled renters (any age) who have registered their status with the Rent Administrator’s Office will be eligible for the 0% rent increase. To ensure your rent does not go up, you should register at least 30 days before your next rent increase.

The registration form, RAD Form 6, is available here in English and Spanish.

Registering is free, is done only once and requires only a few simple steps of proving your status to the Rent Administrator and then notifying your management company. One thing you do not have to provide is proof of income. This rent control break for seniors and the disabled carries no income requirements.

Need help with the application? Call 202-719-6560 or stop by the Office of the Tenant Advocate to make an appointment, at 2000 14th Street, NW Suite 300 North, NW (Reeves Center; Metro: U Street on the Green Line). OTA’s web site is ota.dc.gov.

Once you’ve registered, you will save thousands of dollars in the years to come. We’ve done the math.

Kris Laurenti registered after seeing our 2015 article on rent-control breaks for seniors. She’ll save thousands of dollars.

Is your building rent-controlled?

DC rent-control law, in most cases, applies to buildings with more than four units and built before 1976. But the surest way to know if your unit is rent-controlled is to check your last rent increase notice. This article explains what to look for.