New DC Guidelines regarding Tenant Rights

If you have ever helped someone sell a property in the District of Columbia and that home has a tenant, then youknow just how complicated it has become. There are so many guidlines that it can make your head spin, and what started out as an effort to protect tenants has turned into a confusing mess of paperwork, deadlines, and rules that confuse even the best agents.

But DC is trying to make it just a little easier for everyone. Last week, they released some changes in how we are supposed to do things.

Here is a VERY brief overview:

Change 1

The Old Way: The First Right of Refusal needed to be delivered in both Spanish and English regardless if the tenant was Spanish speaking.

The New Way: The First Right of Refusal does NOT need to be delivered in Spanish.

Change 2

The Old Way: A full copy of the contract needed to be delivered to the tenant.

The New Way: Now, Only the terms of the contract have to be delivered, not the contract itself.

For a detailed discussion on the subject please come to the Chevy Chase Office on Friday March, 10 at 12N.  We will be going over the details.