The Council of the District of Columbia voted 9-4 Oct. 21 to give small rental property owners an exemption from certain tenant laws, removing tenant purchasing rights for two- to four-unit buildings.
The council rolled back the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), a 1980 law that requires landlords to notify tenants in writing of their intent to sell the property, offering tenants the opportunity to be the first to purchase and giving them leverage in negotiations. The rollback is part of a larger Washington, D.C. effort to make the property-selling process more efficient for small landlords, from whom many Georgetown University students rent off-campus housing.
Councilmember Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3) said he voted against the amendment because he believed it did not receive enough community input.
“I raised concerns about how the proposed exemption might affect tenants’ rights,” Frumin wrote to The Hoya. “While I understand the intent to encourage investment in smaller rental properties, I believe any significant change to longstanding tenant protections should follow a public hearing process to scrutinize the proposals and come up with something that everyone could feel confident works.”…