A Washington D.C. 30 Day Notice To Quit is a letter satisfying local requirements to begin eviction against a tenant for nonpayment of rent. The tenant must pay the rent balance due or else move out within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving notice.
When to Use a Washington D.C. 30 Day Notice to Quit
A Washington D.C. 30 Day Notice To Quit begin the eviction process when the tenant is late on rent. This notice may be delivered as soon as rent is late, beginning the day after it’s normally due (although the landlord cannot charge a late fee until five days have passed from the due date). The tenant must pay the past due balance or else move out within thirty (30) calendar days.
A landlord in Washington D.C. cannot file for eviction unless the owed amount is $600 or more. Lesser amounts must be recovered through other means, such as a filing in small claims court.
Some types of Washington D.C. lease termination notice may allow different reasons for termination, or different notice periods. This may also apply to an eviction notice issued because of a lease or legal violation.
How To Write a Washington D.C. 30 Day Notice To Quit
Washington D.C. requires that a Notice To Quit must contain language identical or substantively similar to the following:
The total amount of rent owed is [list specific amount due]. A ledger showing the dates of rent charges and payments for the period of delinquency is attached. You have the right to remain in the rental unit if the total balance of unpaid rent is paid in full.
[Name of housing provider] has the right to file a case in court seeking your eviction if the amount of rent you owe is equal to at least $600 and you do not pay the balance of unpaid rent in full within 30 days of this notice. If the amount you owe is lower than $600, [name of housing provider] can notify you of the amount due but cannot file a case in court seeking your eviction.
You have the right to defend yourself in court. Only a court can order your eviction. For further help or to seek free legal services, contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate at 202-719-6560 or the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at 202-780-2575.
To help ensure the legal compliance of a Notice To Quit:
- Use the full name of the receiving parties, and address of record, if known
- Specify the basis for terminating the tenancy, and payment required to avoid termination
- Specify the termination date of the lease or tenancy
- Fill in the full address of the rental premises
- Provide updated/current address and phone number information
- Print name and sign the notice
- Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery, along with printed name and signature
It is easy to lose an otherwise justified legal action because of improper notice. Check carefully to ensure enough time after notice is delivered, not when it’s sent.
How To Serve a Washington D.C. 30 Day Notice To Quit
Washington D.C. landlords may deliver an initial Notice To Quit using any of these methods:
- Hand delivery to the tenant
- Only if the tenant cannot be found: Hand delivery to a person of suitable age on the premises who can accept the notice on behalf of the tenant
- Only if all forms of hand delivery fail: Posting the notice on the premises, PLUS, within three (3) calendar days, mailing notice by first class mail with return postage prepaid
Mailed notice extends a notice period by three (3) calendar days, to account for variable delivery times.
Special Notice Requirements in Washington D.C.
In Washington D.C., notice from a landlord must be delivered in both English and Spanish, by default. If the landlord knows the tenant speaks a language other than English and Spanish, in most cases the landlord must provide notice in the tenant’s preferred language.
Some notices must be served on the Rent Administrator in addition to being served to the tenant. Notice posted to the premises can only be proven in Washington D.C. courts by providing a picture of the posted notice with a readable date and timestamp.
Sources
- 1 DC Code § 42–3505.01(a-1)(1)
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A housing provider shall provide the tenant with notice of the housing provider’s intent to file a claim against a tenant to recover possession of a rental unit for the non-payment of rent at least 30 days before filing the claim; except, that the housing provider shall not issue such notice if the amount of rent that the tenant has failed to pay is less than $600.
Source Link - 2 DC Code § 42–3505.01(a-1)(2)
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Notice provided to a tenant shall contain the following or substantively similar language:
“The total amount of rent owed is [list specific amount due]. A ledger showing the dates of rent charges and payments for the period of delinquency is attached. You have the right to remain in the rental unit if the total balance of unpaid rent is paid in full.
“[Name of housing provider] has the right to file a case in court seeking your eviction if the amount of rent you owe is equal to at least $600 and you do not pay the balance of unpaid rent in full within 30 days of this notice. If the amount you owe is lower than $600, [name of housing provider] can notify you of the amount due but cannot file a case in court seeking your eviction”.
“You have the right to defend yourself in court. Only a court can order your eviction. For further help or to seek free legal services, contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate at 202-719-6560 or the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at 202-780-2575.”.
Source Link - 3 D.C. Code § 42-3206
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Source Link
Every notice to the tenant to quit shall be served in English and Spanish upon him personally, if he can be found, and if he can not be found it shall be sufficient service of said notice to deliver the same to some person of proper age upon the premises, and in the absence of such tenant or person to post the same in some conspicuous place upon the leased premises. If the notice is posted on the premises, a copy of the notice shall be mailed first class U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to the premises sought to be recovered, in the name of the person known to be in possession of the premises, or if unknown, in the name of the person occupying the premises, within 3 calendar days of the date of posting.
- 4 Sup. Ct. R. D.C. 6(c)
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c) Additional time after service by mail. Whenever a party has the right to act or is required to act within a specified time period after service of a notice or other paper upon the party, if the notice is by regular first class mail, then the party shall have three additional days, separately computed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Rule, to act. For the purpose of this Rule service by facsimile transmission is not service by mail.
Source Link - 5 D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)(1) - (a)(3)
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(1) …No tenant shall be evicted from a rental unit for any reason unless the tenant has been served with a written notice which meets the requirements of this section. Notices for all reasons other than for nonpayment of rent shall be served upon both the tenant and the Rent Administrator. (2) If a notice is served by posting a copy on the premises, a photograph of the posted notice must be submitted to the court. The photograph must have a readable timestamp that indicates the date and time of when the summons was posted. (3) If the landlord knows the tenant speaks a primary language other than English or Spanish that is covered under § 2-1933, the landlord must provide the notice in that language. ===== To determine whether a language other than English or Spanish is covered by the legal requirement in section (D), above, see D.C. Code § 2-1933 (“A covered entity shall provide translations of vital documents into any non-English language spoken by a limited or no-English proficient population that constitutes 3% or 500 individuals, whichever is less”). Source Link