Which disclosures must a DC lease include?
District of Columbia landlord-tenant law (the Rental Housing Act, D.C. Code Title 42, Chapter 35) requires a housing provider to give a prospective tenant a package of disclosures at the time of application, under § 42-3502.22. This is far more than most states require, and the timing — at or before signing, before the tenant is bound — matters.
| Disclosure | Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| DC Tenant Bill of Rights (OTA) | § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(L); § 42-3531.07 | Every applicant |
| Rent-control status + RAD registration / claim of exemption | § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(E); § 42-3502.05(d) | Every applicant (exempt-unit notice before signing) |
| Housing-code violation reports (last 12 months / unabated) | § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(F) | Every applicant |
| Mold (known, prior 3 years, if not remediated) | § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(K); § 8-241.01(5) | Every applicant |
| Lead-based paint + EPA pamphlet | § 8-231.04; Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The Tenant Bill of Rights and rent-control status
Two disclosures are unique to the District. First, the landlord must provide the DC Tenant Bill of Rights, a summary published by the Office of the Tenant Advocate that the applicant signs to confirm receipt (§ 42-3502.22(b)(1)(L); § 42-3531.07).
Second, the landlord must disclose the unit's rent-control status — whether it is rent-stabilized or exempt — and hand over a copy of the RAD Registration Statement or Claim of Exemption on file with the Rental Accommodations Division (§ 42-3502.22(b)(1)(E)). If the unit is exempt from rent stabilization, the landlord must additionally give a separate written notice, before the lease is executed, telling the prospective tenant that the rent is not regulated (§ 42-3502.05(d)).
Mold, housing-code, and lead-paint disclosures
The package also carries three condition-based disclosures:
- Housing-code violations. Copies of any Department of Buildings housing or property-maintenance code violation reports issued in the last 12 months, plus any older violations that remain unabated (§ 42-3502.22(b)(1)(F)).
- Mold. Information the landlord knows or should know about mold contamination in the unit or common areas during the previous three years, unless it was remediated by a certified professional (§ 42-3502.22(b)(1)(K); the definition is at § 8-241.01(5)).
- Lead-based paint. For any pre-1978 unit, DC law layers its own DOEE lead disclosure form onto the federal rule: the landlord provides the DOEE DC lead disclosure form before the tenant is obligated, along with the federal lead-warning statement and the EPA booklet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home (§ 8-231.04; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d).
What happens if a DC landlord skips a required disclosure?
The disclosure duties are enforced through the rent:
- A landlord who willfully fails to make the § 42-3502.22 disclosures, and does not cure within 10 business days of written notice, may be barred from increasing the rent (§ 42-3502.22(c)).
- A federal lead-paint violation carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties, plus liability for tenant damages.
For the full set of DC lease rules — deposits, rent control, just cause, and entry — see What Must a Washington, D.C. Lease Agreement Include. Managing rentals across the DMV? Compare DC's list with our Maryland and Virginia disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
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Create your D.C. lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a Washington, D.C. lease?
At the time of application, a DC landlord must provide the D.C. Code § 42-3502.22 package: the DC Tenant Bill of Rights, the unit's rent-control status with the RAD registration or claim of exemption, housing-code violation reports, and a mold disclosure — plus the DC and federal lead-based paint disclosures for pre-1978 housing.
When must a DC landlord give these disclosures?
At the time the prospective tenant files an application — that is, at or before lease signing, before the tenant is bound. For rent-stabilization-exempt units, a separate written notice that the rent is not regulated must be given before the lease is executed (§ 42-3502.05(d)).
Does DC require a mold disclosure?
Yes. A DC landlord must disclose known (or should-be-known) mold contamination in the unit or common areas within the prior three years, unless it was remediated by a licensed professional (D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(K); § 8-241.01(5)).
What happens if a DC landlord skips a required disclosure?
A landlord who willfully fails to make the § 42-3502.22 disclosures, and does not cure within 10 business days of written notice, may be barred from increasing the rent (§ 42-3502.22(c)). Lead-paint violations carry separate federal civil and criminal exposure.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.