*NOTE: This section was created by temporary legislation that will expire on February 4, 2022.*
*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on October 22, 2021. To view the text of the temporary legislation that created this section, click this link: Temporary Version.*
(a) During a period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency pursuant § 7-2304.01, and for one year thereafter ("program period"), a provider shall offer a rent-payment-plan program ("program") for eligible tenants. Under its program, a provider shall:
(1) Make a payment plan available to an eligible tenant for the payment of gross rent and any other amounts that come due under the lease during the program period and prior to the cessation of tenancy ("covered time period"), with a minimum term length of one year unless a shorter payment plan term length is requested by the eligible tenant.
(2) Waive any fee, interest, or penalty that arises out of an eligible tenant entering into a payment plan;
(3) Not report to a credit reporting agency as delinquent the rent subject to the payment plan;
(4) Provide that an eligible tenant does not lose any rights under the lease by entering into the payment plan; and
(5) Notify all tenants of the availability, terms, and application process for its program.
(b)(1) Tenants entering into a payment plan shall be required to make payments in equal monthly installments for the duration of the payment plan unless a different payment schedule is requested by the tenant.
(2) A provider shall permit a tenant that has entered into a payment plan to pay an amount greater than the monthly amount provided for in the payment plan.
(3) A provider shall not require or request a tenant to provide a lump-sum payment under a payment plan.
(4) A provider shall agree in writing to the terms of a payment plan.
(c) A provider shall utilize existing procedures or, if necessary, establish new procedures to provide a process by which an eligible tenant may apply for a payment plan, which may include requiring the tenant to submit supporting documentation. A provider shall permit an application for a payment plan to occur online and by telephone.
(d) A provider shall approve each application for a payment plan submitted during a covered time period in which an eligible tenant:
(1) Demonstrates to the provider evidence of a financial hardship resulting directly or indirectly from the public health emergency, regardless of an existing delinquency or a future inability to make rental payments established prior to the start of the public health emergency; and
(2) Agrees in writing to make payments in accordance with the payment plan.
(e)(1) A provider who receives an application for a payment plan shall retain the application, whether approved or denied, for at least 3 years.
(2) Upon request of the tenant, a provider shall make an application for a payment plan available to:
(A) For residential tenants, the Rent Administrator, Office of the Tenant Advocate; and
(B) For commercial tenants, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
(f)(1) A residential tenant whose application for a payment plan is denied may file a written complaint with the Rent Administrator. The Rent Administrator shall forward the complaint to the Office of Administrative Hearings for adjudication.
(2) A commercial tenant whose application for a payment plan is denied may file a written complaint with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs.
(f-1) Tenant payment plans may not contain any waiver of the tenant's rights under the tenant's lease or District of Columbia law. A tenant entering into a tenant payment plan retains the right to contest the amount of rent due unless this is agreed to in writing by both parties.
(g) During the program period, unless the provider has offered a rent payment plan pursuant to this section and approved a rent payment plan pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, that provider shall be prohibited from filing any collection lawsuit or eviction for non-payment of rent; provided, that the tenant does not default on the terms of the payment plan.
(h) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(1) "Eligible tenant" means a tenant that:
(A) Has notified a provider of an inability to pay all or a portion of the rent due as a result of the public health emergency; and
(B) Is not a franchisee unless the franchise is owned by a District resident; and
(C) Has leased from a provider:
(i) A residential property;
(ii) Commercial retail space; or
(iii) Commercial space that is less than 6,500 square feet in size and that comprises all or part of a commercial building.
(2) "Housing provider" means a person or entity who is a residential landlord, residential owner, residential lessor, residential sublessor, residential assignee, or the agent of any of the foregoing or any other person receiving or entitled to receive the rents or benefits for the use or occupancy of any residential rental unit within a housing accommodation within the District.
(3) "Non-housing provider" means a person or entity who is a non-residential landlord, non-residential owner, non-residential lessor, non-residential sublessor, non-residential assignee, a non-residential agent of a landlord, owner, lessor, sublessor, or assignee, or any other person receiving or entitled to receive rents or benefits for the use or occupancy of a commercial unit.
(4) "Provider" means a housing provider or a non-housing provider.
(June 24, 2021, D.C. Law 24-9, § 402, 68 DCR 004824; July 24, 2021, D.C. Act 24-125, § 3(r), 68 DCR 007342.)
Emergency LegislationFor temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(r) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-125, July 24, 2021, 68 DCR 007342).
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 402 of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-96, June 7, 2021, 68 DCR 006025).
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 402 of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-30, Mar. 17, 2021, 68 DCR 003101).
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 2(b) of Coronavirus Support Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-332, July 7, 2020, 67 DCR 8609).
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 402 of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-328, June 8, 2020, 67 DCR 7598).
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 402 of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-326, May 27, 2020, 67 DCR 7045).
Temporary LegislationFor temporary (225 days) creation of this section, see § 402 of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9, June 24, 2021, 68 DCR 004824).