District of Columbia Rent Control Act of 1973

Summary

District of Columbia Rent Control Act - States that Congress finds a serious emergency exists in the District of Columbia by reason of a shortage of leased or rental residences. Creates a temporary District of Columbia Housing Rent Commission for the District of Columbia composed of 9 members, one designated as chairman, to be appointed by the D.C. Commissioner with the advice and consent of the City Council, in such a manner that at least 2 members shall represent the landlords of the District and at least 2 members shall represent tenants. Requires all members of the Commission to be residents of the District and limits the term of office to 2 years. Empowers the Commission to adopt necessary rules, regulations and orders to carry out the purpose of this Act, and to employ necessary personnel or consultants. Makes it unlawful for any person to demand rent for the use of a residence at a rent greater than the rent which exceeds the highest monthly rent previously charged prior to January 11, 1973, for the same residence, provided that the residence shall have met all the regulations of the D.C. Housing Regulations, plus: (1) 2.5 per cent thereof to each consecutive 12-month period beginning at the end of the preceding period of occupancy, (2) the actual amount of any increase in tax, fee or service charge levied by the D.C. or U.S. Government after the beginning of the preceding period of occupancy and not previously charged to any lessee and allocable to that residence, and (3) a sum equal to 1.5 percent per month or its prorated equivalent for other rent payment intervals of that part of the costs of any capital improvement completed on or after January 11, 1973, provided that sum does not exceed 7.5 percent of the base rent and in no event if the expenditure was made in order to comply with the D. C. Housing Regulations. Allows exceptions to be made to this Act where the foregoing regulations would cause serious financial hardship to a landlord, but requires exeptions to be within guidelines which have been set down pursuant to public hearings and approved by the City Council. Requires notice of hearings and proceedings under the "contested case" treatment of the D.C. Administrative Procedures Act. Sets rent at the fair market value for comparable facilities for residences not leased for occupancy at any time during a 24-month-period immediately preceding the entering of a lease. Makes it the duty of a landlord to refund the difference and to adjust the rental rate when rent paid is in excess of the amount specified in this Act. Forbids a landlord to take retaliatory action against any tenant who exercises his rights under this Act, or to reduce any service customarily provided to his tenants. Provides for remedies for aggrieved persons and criminal penalties of fines of not more than $5,000 for each violation. Terminates the Commission 2 years from the date of enactment unless it is decided by a majority of members of the City Council after a public hearing that the findings of fact set forth in this Act continue to exist.

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Timeline

1. 27 February 1973

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 27 February 1973

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 27 February 1973

   Introduced

   Referred to House Committee on District of Columbia.

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 5 June 1973

   Reported

   Reported to House from the Committee on the District of Columbia with amendment, H. Rept. 93-259.

   Source: Committee

5. 5 June 1973

   Reported

   Reported to House from the Committee on the District of Columbia with amendment, H. Rept. 93-259.

   Source: Committee

6. 11 June 1973

   Vote

   Measure passed House, amended, roll call #206 (210-144).

   Source: Floor

7. 11 June 1973

   Vote

   Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, roll call #206 (210-144).

   Source: Floor

8. 12 June 1973

   Introduced

   Referred to Senate Committee on the District of Columbia.

   Source: IntroReferral

9. 5 September 1973

   Reported

   Reported to Senate from the Committee on the District of Columbia with amendment, S. Rept. 93-384.

   Source: Committee

10. 5 September 1973

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on the District of Columbia with amendment, S. Rept. 93-384.

    Source: Committee

11. 7 September 1973

    Passed

    Measure passed Senate, amended.

    Source: Floor

12. 7 September 1973

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended.

    Source: Floor

13. 8 November 1973

    Passed

    House agreed to Senate amendments.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

14. 8 November 1973

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendments.

    Source: NotUsed

15. 13 November 1973

    President

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: President

16. 13 November 1973

    Floor

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: Floor

17. 21 November 1973

    President

    Public law 93-157.

    Source: President

18. 21 November 1973

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

19. 21 November 1973

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 22 November 1973

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Public Law

  summary · EN · 21 November 1973

  Open at official source

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 27 February 1973

  Open at official source

  Leesvertaling

  Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

  Vertaal naarNL · DutchDE · GermanFR · FrenchES · SpanishIT · ItalianPL · PolishPT · PortugueseSV · SwedishDA · DanishFI · FinnishEL · GreekCS · CzechHU · HungarianRO · RomanianBG · BulgarianHR · CroatianSK · SlovakSL · SlovenianLT · LithuanianLV · LatvianET · EstonianGA · IrishMT · Maltese

  Vertaal document

  Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

• Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• · ssdt00 · Standing
• · hsdt00 · Standing

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