The D.C. Council is considering a proposal that would close an often-criticized loophole in the city’s housing voucher policy, enabling rent-controlled buildings to charge higher rates to people with housing vouchers, eroding the power of the city’s rent control policies.
Currently, renters who use housing vouchers, including some formerly homeless renters, are exempt from rent control, meaning landlords at rent-controlled buildings can charge voucher holders more than the D.C. rent control law authorizes them to charge other tenants. The Rent Stabilization Protection Amendment Act of 2025 would make tenants utilizing housing vouchers covered by rent-controlled rates, reducing how much landlords can charge renters who rely on a subsidy.
Councilmembers heard testimony from community advocates on the bill at a Committee on Housing hearing held on Oct. 28. Proponents argued that removing the rent stabilization exemption would stop landlords from charging housing voucher tenants higher rates, saving money for the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), which could then offer more vouchers to people in unstable housing situations. Opponents said in practice, the bill could discourage landlords from renting to tenants with housing vouchers because they would not be able to charge enough rent to keep up with costs…