Free Washington, DC Lease Agreement Template

A Washington, DC lease agreement is a written contract between a landlord and a tenant that explains the terms of a rental arrangement in the District of Columbia. It covers rent amounts, due dates, security deposits, repair duties, and other day-to-day rules for using the property.

Landlords use a Washington, DC lease agreement when renting out a house, apartment, condo, or room. A detailed, written lease helps ensure both parties understand their rights and responsibilities under DC law, especially in a rent-controlled city.

Washington, DC has strong tenant protections, including rent control, late fee limits, and strict deposit rules. Important points include:

• Rent control: For many rent-controlled units, annual rent increases are limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) percentage plus 2%, capped at 10%, or 5% for elderly or disabled tenants (Rental Housing Act of 1985 (DC Law 6-10), DC rent control fact sheet).
• Late fees: Late fees cannot exceed 5% of the full monthly rent and must be clearly stated in the lease (DC Code § 42-3505.31(a)).
• Grace period: Landlords must provide at least a 5-day grace period after the due date before charging a late fee (DC Code § 42-3505.31(d)).
• Security deposits: Security deposits may not exceed one month’s rent and must be handled according to local escrow and interest rules (14 DCMR § 308).
• Landlord license: Most DC landlords must hold a basic business license to rent residential property (DC Code § 42-3502.05(b)).

Document Genius’s guided form helps you reflect these rules in your Washington, DC lease agreement in plain, user-friendly language.

DC rent laws control both how much rent can increase and how late fees are charged.

• Annual rent increases: For rent-controlled units, landlords generally may not raise rent by more than the CPI-W percentage plus 2%, and never more than 10%. For elderly or disabled tenants, the cap is 5% (DC rent control fact sheet, CPI-W for Washington–Arlington–Alexandria).
• Vacancy increases: When a rent-controlled unit becomes vacant, landlords may raise rent once per year by up to 10% or to match comparable market rents, up to a 30% increase, subject to DC rent control limits (DC rent control fact sheet).
• Late fees: Late fees are capped at 5% of the full monthly rent and may only be charged if the lease allows them and the tenant is more than 5 days late (DC Code § 42-3505.31).
• Grace period: Tenants must receive a 5-day grace period before any late fee is applied.
• Notices for nonpayment: Before filing an eviction case for unpaid rent, DC landlords must provide proper written notice and follow local procedures through the DC Courts (DC Courts housing matters).

Your Washington, DC lease agreement should clearly state the rent amount, due date, grace period, and late fee policy so tenants know exactly what to expect.

DC closely regulates how landlords collect, store, and return security deposits.

• Deposit limit: Landlords may not charge more than one month’s rent as a security deposit (14 DCMR § 308).
• Escrow account: Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing escrow account at a financial institution in DC, separate from the landlord’s personal funds (14 DCMR § 308).
• Interest payments: When the tenancy ends, landlords must pay the tenant the interest earned on the deposit, less lawful deductions (14 DCMR § 308).
• Return deadline: Security deposits must be returned within 45 days after the tenancy ends. If deductions are taken, the landlord must provide an itemized list of charges within that same 45-day period (14 DCMR § 309, DC security deposit itemization rules).
• Allowable deductions: Typical deductions include unpaid rent, property damage beyond normal wear and tear, and unpaid utilities, all documented in the itemized statement.

Document Genius helps you include clear security deposit terms in your Washington, DC lease agreement so everyone understands how deposits will be handled.

DC law assigns repair responsibilities and sets rules for when a landlord may enter a rental unit.

Landlord Responsibilities

• Maintenance and safety: Landlords must maintain plumbing, utilities, heating, air conditioning, hot water, smoke alarms, locks, roofs, structural components, and provided appliances in good working order (DC housing code guidance).
• Code compliance: Rentals must meet local housing, building, and health codes and remain free of conditions that threaten tenants’ health or safety.
• Notice before entry: For non-emergency maintenance or inspection, landlords should provide at least 48 hours’ notice and visit at reasonable times (DC Code § 8-231.06 and related housing standards).

Tenant Responsibilities

• Care of the unit: Tenants must keep the unit reasonably clean, dispose of trash properly, and avoid damaging the property.
• Reporting problems: Tenants should promptly report leaks, electrical issues, pests, or structural concerns so the landlord can arrange repairs.
• Responsibility for damage: Tenants are generally responsible for damage they cause that affects health and safety conditions in the property (DC Code § 42-3505.10).

Your Washington, DC lease agreement should include clear language on repairs, maintenance, and entry so there is no confusion about who handles what.

DC requires several disclosures to support transparency and protect tenants. These should be provided before or at the time of signing the lease.

• Lead-based paint disclosure: For most residential properties built before 1978, federal law requires a lead-based paint disclosure and an EPA information pamphlet (EPA lead-based paint disclosure rules, 42 U.S.C. § 4852d).
• District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights: Landlords must provide tenants with the official District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights, which explains key protections and procedures.
• Voter registration packet: Landlords must give incoming tenants a voter registration packet from the DC Board of Elections, including the most recent registration form (DC Board of Elections).
• Receipts for cash payments: Landlords must provide a written receipt for any cash rent payment.
• RAD disclosure forms: DC’s Rental Accommodations Division requires specific forms, such as RAD Form 3 (Housing Provider’s Disclosure to Applicant) and RAD Form 5 (Notice of Tenant Rights Regarding Housing Provider Disclosure Forms).

Document Genius helps you track and include these disclosures so your Washington, DC lease agreement stays compliant and transparent.

Ending a lease in Washington, DC requires proper notice and, in some cases, just cause. Your lease should outline these rules in simple terms.

• Ending a month-to-month lease: Many DC tenancies may be ended with at least 30 days’ written notice, unless local protections or rent control rules require additional procedures.
• Rent-controlled and long-term leases: In many cases, landlords must have a lawful reason (“good cause”) to end a tenancy, such as nonpayment of rent or serious lease violations, following the Rental Housing Act and DC Courts procedures (DC landlord–tenant statutes, DC Courts housing information).
• Notices to quit: Before filing an eviction case, landlords must serve the correct written notice (for example, for nonpayment of rent or violation of obligations) and allow the required time to cure or vacate.
• Personal property after eviction: If a tenant leaves personal belongings after an eviction, landlords must store the items for at least seven days before disposing of them (DC Code § 42-3505.01a).

By including clear notice periods, move-out steps, and property handling rules, your Washington, DC lease agreement created with Document Genius can help make the end of a tenancy as straightforward as possible.