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Washington, D.C. room rental agreement
Written for Washington, D.C. law, checked October 1, 2026 General information, not legal advice
Rentari offers a general room-rental agreement form, but it is not tailored to Washington, D.C. or every local rule. Review the room, shared spaces, occupancy requirements, and applicable Washington, D.C. and city rules before using a form. The state table below covers selected deposit and entry rules, not every room-rental requirement.
Washington, D.C. rules that apply
- Security deposit limit
- 1 month
- of rent, all deposits together, under the housing regulations
- 14 DCMR 308
- Entry notice
- 48 hours
- written, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., not on a Sunday or federal holiday
- D.C. Code § 42-3505.51(a)
Security deposit limit
Partly readThe District's housing regulations limit a security deposit to one month's rent, counting all deposits together, and allow it to be collected only once. The D.C. Code says deposits are collected under the Security Deposit Act and those regulations. The regulations are published only as Word files and were not reread for this page.
14 DCMR 308 D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a)
More detail (3)
- A landlord may not demand a deposit from a tenant who has lived in the unit since July 17, 1985 without ever having paid one, except for newly built units and some exempt units. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(a)
- A separate pet deposit was added to the Code in 2025 but is marked not funded, so it has not taken effect. D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(d) D.C. Law 25-308
- When a prospective tenant applies, you must disclose the amount of any initial security deposit, the interest rate on it and how it is returned. D.C. Code § 42-3502.22(b)(1)(H) See Required disclosures on the Washington, D.C. page
The Rentari D.C. lease states the deposit amount and says it may not exceed the first full month's rent and may be charged only once.
Landlord entry
Except in an emergency, you may enter only for a reasonable purpose, at a reasonable time, and after written notice at least 48 hours ahead, unless the tenant agrees in writing to a shorter period. A reasonable time is between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., not on a Sunday or federal holiday, unless the tenant agrees to another time.
More detail (4)
- Notice may be by email or text message, but if the tenant does not acknowledge it in writing you must give a paper notice. D.C. Code § 42-3505.51(a)(1)
- Reasonable purposes are keeping the property safe, inspecting, making repairs or improvements, supplying services, showing the unit to buyers, lenders, tenants or workers, and work a government agency ordered. D.C. Code § 42-3505.51(a)(2)
- A court can stop unlawful entry or repeated unreasonable demands for entry and award damages. D.C. Code § 42-3505.51(b)(2)
- When a tenant reports a housing code violation, the tenant must give you access within 48 hours of your written request to assess and fix it. D.C. Code § 42-3505.51(b)(3)
The Rentari D.C. lease follows these rules: 48 hours' written notice, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., not on Sundays or federal holidays, and only for the listed purposes, except in an emergency.