District of Columbia Tenant Screening

Mold Notice

In 2014, the DC Council passed a bill that:

  1. requires landlords to professionally remediate mold once it is confirmed
  2. authorizes DDOE to issue regulations establishing a threshold level of mold above which remediation will be required
  3. requires companies performing mold assessment or remediation to be licensed by DDOE
  4. allows the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to issue housing code violation notices
  5. allows tenants to seek rent abatement, reimbursement of costs, attorney’s fees, and in sometimes treble damages when a landlord fails to remediate mold above the DDOE threshold after receiving notice. See DC Air Quality Amendment Act Of 2014.

Required Disclosures (by Landlords)

At the start of every new tenancy, landlord must give tenant a copy of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, CDCR Title 14, Housing, Chapter 3, Landlord and Tenant; and a copy of Title 14, Housing, Chapter 1, § 101 (Civil Enforcement Policy) and Chapter 1, § 106 (Notification of Tenants Concerning Violations). (14 D.C. Mun. Regs. § 300)

In the lease, rental agreement, or receipt, landlord must state the terms and conditions under which the security deposit was collected (to secure tenant’s obligations under the lease or rental agreement). (D.C. Code Ann. § 42-3502.17, D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, §§ 308 to 310)

Background Check Coverage for District Of Columbia:

  • Criminal & Sex Offender Records – Includes District Of Columbia Sex Offender Registry. Criminal record searches can be performed only for DC, but we usually recommend searching based upon the applicant’s reported address history which often includes neighboring states such as MD and VA.
  • Eviction Records – Includes District Of Columbia.
  • Bankruptcies, Liens & Judgments – Includes District Of Columbia.