On January 16, the Council of the District of Columbia enacted the “Fairness and Stability in Housing Amendment Act of 2024” to amend housing-related laws including the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act, the Rental Housing Act of 1985, the Condominium Act of 1976, the District of Columbia Official Code (Sections 29-910, 29-1005.06, 29-1005.07, and 29-1008.11(b)), the Commission on Re-Entry and Returning Citizens Affairs Establishment Law, and the Confirmation Act of 1978.
The Act establishes a permanent Reverse Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program, expanding its scope to include condominium and homeowners’ association fees eligible for financial assistance and extending eligibility to homeowners whose spouses have executed a reverse mortgage. It also increases the maximum assistance amount from $25,000 to $40,000. The Act updates voluntary agreement procedures and removes the mayor’s authority to issue certificates of assurance. Among other policy changes, the Act provides mediation opportunities for appeals before the Rental Housing Commission and clarifies the definition of coercion in voluntary agreements. Additionally, it authorizes condominium unit owners’ associations and cooperatives to conduct meetings remotely.
