Relocation payment.
If an owner converts a housing accommodation into a condominium or cooperative pursuant to this chapter, the owner shall provide a relocation payment to each tenant who does not purchase a unit or share or enter into a lease or lease option of at least 5 years’ duration. An owner shall pay the tenant only if the tenant provides a relocation expense receipt or a written estimate from a moving company or other relocation service provider. Regardless of the amount on the receipt or written estimates, the owner shall pay no less than $125, but is not required to pay more than $1,000 to the tenant. An owner may pay by check or cash to the tenant or person designated by the tenant, and shall pay within 7 days of receipt of the written estimate or receipt, the amount indicated or an amount required by subsection (b) of this section. The tenant who bears the cost of relocation is entitled to the payment. If there is more than 1 tenant who bears the cost of relocation from a unit, the owner shall pay the tenants proportionally. The owner is not required to make a relocation payment to a tenant against whom the owner has obtained a judgment for possession of the unit. If an owner does not make a relocation payment as required, the tenant has a private right of action to collect the payment and is entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees for bringing the action.
Annotations
Sept. 10, 1980, D.C. Law 3-86, § 302, 27 DCR 2975 Aug. 1, 1981, D.C. Law 4-27, § 2(c), 28 DCR 2824 Mar. 21, 2009, D.C. Law 17-319, § 3(a), 56 DCR 214 Reenactment of Law 3-86: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 42-3401.01. For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 3(a) of Abatement of Nuisance Properties and Tenant Receivership Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-563, October 27, 2008, 55 DCR 12019). For temporary (90 day) amendment, see § 3(a) of Abatement of Nuisance Properties and Tenant Receivership Emergency Amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Act 17-420, July 8, 2008, 55 DCR 7703). For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 3(a) of Abatement of Nuisance Properties and Tenant Receivership Temporary amendment Act of 2008 (D.C. Law 17-237, October 21, 2008, law notification 55 DCR 11700). D.C. Law 17-319, in subsec. (b), substituted “is not required to pay more than $1,000 to the tenant” for “is not required to pay more than $500 to the tenant”. 1981 Ed., § 45-1621. This section is referenced in § 42-2107. Homestead housing preservation, transfers of real estate of persons not electing to purchase, see § 42-2107.
Sourced from the DC Council Open Law Library (public domain).
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