District of Columbia2025Active

B26-0758

Housing Investment Protection Act of 2026

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM

In one sentence

This bill updates housing rules in Washington, D.C., to help repair buildings by allowing temporary transfers of rental aid, expand eligibility for the Local Rental Supplement Program, clarify tenant rights during building sales and repairs, and set specific time limits for eviction hearings.

Allows the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) to temporarily transfer project-based rental assistance funds to a different property so tenants can stay housed while their original unit is repaired or renovated.
Expands eligibility for the Local Rental Supplement Program from only extremely low-income residents to include very low-income residents as well.
Clarifies that housing providers have a legal right to enter units to make repairs and allows courts to stop (enjoin) tenants who block this access and assess damages against them.
Updates rules about tenant rights when buildings are sold, including clarifying the definition of 'tenant' under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).
Improves TOPA laws to ensure transactions work correctly and gives the Mayor the ability to purchase newer buildings within a 15-year window on an expedited timeline.
Sets specific time limits for initial eviction hearings, requiring them to happen within 30 or 60 days depending on the reason for eviction.
Clarifies that tenants receiving housing vouchers are only required to pay their fair share into protective orders during court proceedings.

Tenants living in District of Columbia housing, especially those with very low incomes or receiving rental assistance.
Housing providers and landlords who own buildings that need repairs or are being sold.
The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and the Department of Housing and Community Development.

The official effective date for when these changes start is listed as empty and has not been determined yet.
The provided text ends before finishing all details about how trusts are treated under rental registration rules, specifically regarding beneficiaries inheriting units.

Plain language

Local Rental Supplement Program: A program providing project-based rental assistance to help pay rent for low-income residents in specific buildings.
Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA): Laws that give tenants the first chance to buy their building before it is sold to someone else.
Very low-income: Families or individuals whose gross income does not exceed 50% of the area median income.

Official record

Source attached

Housing Investment Protection Act of 2026

Official activity