Before Signing
Before you sign a lease ask your landlord to see their Basic Business License (BBL). District of Columbia law requires that landlords obtain a BBL for rental property from the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA).
It is also important to inspect the property yourself with the landlord and a witness. Use a walkthrough form and fire safety check list to document all existing damages and safety hazards. Both you and the landlord should sign and date both documents and have this literature included in the lease agreement. You may also want to videotape or take photographs to document your descriptions. These documents will prevent the landlord from trying to charge you for existing damages when you move out.
Having your landlord sign and include a disclosure form in the lease is also a good way to protect yourself as a tenant.
Find out more about tenants’ rights and security deposits.