D.C. Rental Housing

Security Deposit Protections

The District of Columbia generally protects tenants against the practice of withholding or delaying the return of security deposits in bad faith. It also establishes the maximum security deposit that a landlord can collect and it prescribes when a security deposit must be returned with interest. 

While the following overview covers certain protections extended to D.C. renters, it is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. You can find the complete set of rules that govern the handling of security deposits in Chapter 14-3 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations.

Generally, a case alleging violations of the practices discussed here must be brought within three years of the date of the violation.

  • The security deposit is the total money you pay to an owner or landlord to guarantee the performance of your obligations as a tenant under the lease.

  • Only if it is no larger than the amount of the first full month’s rent, and only if it is a one-time charge.

  • D.C. landlords have 45 days from the end of the tenancy to either refund your security deposit or to notify you in writing of their intent to withhold the security deposit and apply it towards expenses, as provided under the lease. 

    D.C. landlords who notify their tenants of an intent to withhold the security deposit have 30 days from the date of the notice to return the unused portion of the deposit.

    Failure to comply with these requirements entitles you to a return of the full security with interest. And if the landlord withheld funds in bad faith, then they may be entitled to you for three times the amount of damages. Under D.C. law, a “bad faith” refusal to reimburse the security deposit is one that is frivolous or unfounded, and motivated by a fraudulent, misleading, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose.

  • If your tenancy lasted at least 12 months long, then your landlord must reimburse you the security deposit with interest.

    Again, if the landlord withholds the interest in bad faith, you may be entitled to three times the amount of damages. As noted above, in D.C., a “bad faith” refusal to reimburse the interest is frivolous or unfounded, and motivated by a fraudulent, misleading, dishonest, or unreasonably self-serving purpose.

BILLE PLLC is actively investigating corporate landlords and property management companies that engage in a pattern of violations of the District of Columbia’s landlord-tenant laws, including practices discussed on this page. If you believe you have a case, and that other tenants in your building may be experiencing the same issues as you, do not hesitate to reach out through our consultation form.

Important Notice.

BILLE PLLC’s principal, E. Vanessa Assae-Bille, is licensed to practice in the State of New York. She is also authorized to practice in the District of Columbia while her application to become licensed is pending, under the supervision of an attorney licensed in the District of Columbia. The information shared on this website is not an effort to practice law in any other state. The law discussed here is limited to the District of Columbia, unless stated otherwise. Importantly, the information provided on this website is general and not intended to be legal advice. Visiting this website is not a substitute for a consultation with an attorney and visitors should not rely on the information conveyed here to make legal decisions. Any advice for your factual situation can only be provided after consultation with a lawyer.