Know Your Rights

Supporting Tenant Purchase

Washington, DC has one of the strongest tenant rights laws in the country, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which gives tenants the first right to purchase their building when an owner wishes to sell.  Under TOPA, tenant owners may maintain their building as a rental property, convert it to a cooperative or condominiums, or choose a new owner of the property. For many residents, purchasing their building through TOPA may be their best chance to become homeowners at an affordable price.

When tenants receive the Offer of Sale from a building owner, it is important that they act quickly. This may be difficult given that they must respond as an association, and residents may never have thought about purchasing a home or worked with their neighbors before. It is important that residents know that they do not have to move when their building is put up for sale, and that it is possible for very low-income residents to purchase their buildings.

LEDC provides technical assistance, education and organizing support to tenant associations looking to exercise their TOPA rights. Through group trainings and individual meetings, LEDC educates residents on their options for exercising their first right to purchase and for preserving their housing as affordable to prevent displacement. Throughout the process, LEDC assists tenant associations in making informed decisions to achieve their goals. LEDC works with tenant associations from the moment of the offer of sale through renovation and will also support the development of new cooperative boards of directors.

Check out clips from the first Tenant Talent Show which supported tenants of the Center St NW Tenant Association and their purchase of their building by clicking below....

Condo Conversion

In recent years, DC experienced a boom in the conversion of affordable rental properties to high-end condominiums – most of which were unaffordable to long-term residents. However, DC’s Rental Housing Conversion and Sales Act empowers tenants to decide whether their building converts to condominiums (and under what terms) or remains rental property.

LEDC provides education on tenant rights and the condominium conversion process to tenants living at rent-controlled buildings facing conversion. LEDC will also support residents in forming a tenant association as well as developing and pursuing long-term goals for their housing.