Press Release: Councilmember Anita Bonds Introduces Legislation to Extend Rent Control across the District of Columbia for 10 Additional Years

News Release — At-large DC Council member Anita Bonds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 17, 2019 

Contact: Emmanuel Brantley

Washington, D.C. – Today, during the Council of the District of Columbia’s first post-recess legislative meeting, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, introduced the Rental Housing Act Extension Amendment Act of 2019. If passed into law, this legislation will extend the District of Columbia’s rent control program to December 31, 2030. This effort will protect the more than 80,000 housing units currently under rent control from significant rent increases and help preserve the health, safety, and well-being of the thousands of individuals and families who rely on the District’s rent control program.

“Rent control, the District’s most widely used affordable housing program, was established in the mid-1970s and covered 130,000 units. It was at that time that the Council of the District of Columbia noted the severe shortage of housing for low- to moderate-income persons. The Council later reinforced their efforts with the Rental Housing Act of 1985. However, the District of Columbia now counts approximately 80,000 rent control units,” said Councilmember Bonds.

“The availability of affordable rent control housing is critical to neighborhood stability, the maintenance of a diverse population, and a healthy economy. One of the primary goals of rent control is to prevent the erosion of moderately priced rental housing while providing housing providers and developers with a reasonable rate of return on their investments,” she continued.

Expanding the rent control program and extending its benefits to as many District residents as possible is absolutely critical and a top priority for Councilmember Bonds. In fact, in the fiscal year 2020 budget, effective October 1, Councilmember Bonds secured funding for the Vacancy Increase Reform Amendment Act of 2018. This legislation will curb the number of rent control units that succumb to significant rent increases upon vacancy. Councilmember Bonds also secured funding for legislation that will establish the Rental Housing Commission, the entity responsible for enforcing the Rental Housing Act of 1985, as an independent body.

The Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization will convene for public hearings on October 2 and October 30; both will begin at 11:00 a.m. To learn more about the legislation being discussed or to learn how to testify, visit https://tinyurl.com/HousingHearings.

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