NCJ Number
92436
Date Published
1983
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Since the adoption of local rent controls in 1974, the District of Columbia has developed two innovative approaches to tenant-landlord disputes: third party conciliation of disputes and the voluntary agreement, where at least 70 percent of the tenants of a building and the owner enter into a formal contract establishing rent increases and other services.
Abstract
The conciliation service was established by Section 503 of the Rental Housing Act, and the service is administered by the Rental Accommodations Office (RAO), the District's rent control agency. Conciliations are generally handled by contact representatives, paralegal specialists in tenant-landlord law and conciliation techniques. During fiscal 1982, RAO effected over 300 successful conciliations. Conciliations are classified in three levels: simple tenant grievances or problems, disputes which have been formally brought before the RAO as part of a tenant petition, and disputes associated with voluntary agreements. Although the vigorous acceptance of the voluntary agreement by tenants and landlords has been gratifying, there are some problems. The law does not provide specific standards for evaluating the many types of agreements being negotiated. Further, there has been criticism that tenants are not provided adequate assistance in the negotiation of agreements. The RAO has responded to this criticism by developing educational material about voluntary agreements and provisions of the Rental Housing Act. RAO also provides training seminars for tenants and landlords before they begin negotiations.