Across the United States, empty office buildings have become a common sight. According to Moody’s Analytics, office vacancies are at their highest since the 1990s. The COVID hangover has left us with an abundance of vacant or...more
When District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson introduced the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants and Landlords (RENTAL) Act, there were high hopes that much needed reform to the Tenant Opportunity to...more
As spring begins to give way to summer, legislative activity shows no signs of cooling off. Our May TOPA Alert generated many questions and comments and a further update on the pending TOPA reform legislation is included...more
With very active legislative sessions in the DMV region, we're providing these updates on proposed legislation and several ongoing efforts impacting the multifamily industry. ...more
Finally, some potential good news for multifamily property owners and developers in DC. It appears that the discussions on reforming the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), as well as the Emergency Rental Assistance...more
As summer 2024 winds down, the implementation of new rent control laws has attracted much attention. Providing some respite from the summer’s rent control heat is a recent win for the multifamily industry coming from the...more
We continue to track important legislative and regulatory proposals and changes in the region. Our most recent prior Alert discussed rent control efforts in Maryland, changes to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program,...more
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the writing has been on the wall that downtown D.C. could use a breath of fresh air. With office vacancy rates skyrocketing, the Bowser administration has made no secret of its desire to...more
The District of Columbia’s office market, particularly Class B and C properties, is facing a calamity of epic proportions with occupancy, revenues, and valuations plummeting. Like other municipalities facing similar office...more
Regulation of the multifamily industry appears to be continuing. Our most recent Alert discussed Maryland Governor Moore’s proposals for the Renters Rights and Housing Stabilization Act of 2024; rent control updates; our Rent...more
On January 18, 2022, an amendment to Bill 24-612 (legislation that would extend the eviction moratorium in DC until June 30, 2022) (the "Amendment") was introduced to the DC Council that proposed tolling tenant deadlines...more
In March 2020, the D.C. Council authorized and Mayor Bowser effectuated a public health emergency (PHE). The PHE declaration included restrictions on evictions and rent increases and also tolled all time periods under the...more
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals recently determined, in Williams v. Kennedy, that a conveyance of ownership interests in a rental property does not constitute a sale under D.C.’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act...more
The District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has issued its final rules for the implementation of the District Opportunity to Purchase Act (DOPA), which were published in the District of...more
The D.C. Superior Court recently denied residents of a nursing facility protections under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (“TOPA”) (D.C. Code § 42-3401 to -3405) when the residents sought an injunction to temporarily...more