In the District of Columbia, landlords are required by law to keep all housing units—including apartments and shared common areas—in a safe, habitable, and livable condition. This includes making necessary repairs and ensuring compliance with Housing Code and other established safety standards.

Helpful Resources

DOB has several resources to help you understand your landlord's responsibilities, and how to resolve problems. Please see the list below:

View the DC Housing Code Standards

• Organizations That Assist Tenants
  • Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs
  • Office of the Tenant Advocate
  • Office of the DC Attorney General
  • DC Tenants’ Rights Center
  • DC Courts - Landlord and Tenant Branch
• Resource Guides
  • Navigating Property Disputes Guide
  • Resources for Seniors
  • Resources for Residents
  • LA ADMINISTRACIÓN BOWSER APOYA A LOS HABITANTES MAYORES EN DC

Before You Sign a Lease

Before signing a lease or moving in, tenants should verify that the landlord holds an active Basic Business License (BBL), as required by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). To confirm a landlord’s license status:

• Ask for their BBL number 
• Search by rental address or license category (e.g., Apartment, One Family, or Two Family)
• Visit the Basic Business License Verification System
• Call the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) at 202-671-4500 for assistance. For more infromation, see the Basic Business License Category Information page.

What To Report

• Anything broken in your unit: for example, appliances, utilities (like heat, hot water or gas), windows and doors, and smoke alarms must all be in proper working order.

• Safety concerns in your building: for example, broken windows and doors.

How To Report

• Collect evidence.

• First report your problem to your landlord or property manager to fix it.

• File a complaint with DOB if the issue isn’t fixed within 10 days, or 24 hours if it is an emergency issue such as lack of heat or utilities.

Request Housing Inspection 

Be Sure To Include These Details:

• Your landlord/property manager’s contact information.

• Your contact information so we can send you status updates and can arrange an inspection of your unit

What to Expect: An inspection will be scheduled within 15 business days, and we will issue a Notice of Infraction (NOI) to the landlord if violations are found. At that point, landlords have 60 days to fix non-emergency violations and 24 hours for emergencies. If violations aren't fixed, please let DOB know. You may also contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) for assistance and more tenant resources and information at ota.dc.gov. 

Illegal Construction, Vacant and Blighted Properties

Any construction without required building permits is illegal. This is a public danger that can hurt people and property. Contact us if you see a violation and we will schedule an inspection. Learn more here. 

How To Report Illegal Construction

• Write down the address and type of issue
• Take photos, if you can.
• Call 311 or file online below:

Request Housing Inspection 

Vacant or Blighted Property Problems?

A vacant building or house is empty and has not been lived in or used continuously. A blighted building threatens the health, safety, or general welfare of the community. DOB schedules inspections based on complaints from residents in an effort to bring properties back into productive use.

Filing a complaint: Write down the address and call 311 or file a complaint online below:

Request Vacant Property Inspection