| District's Basic Heating and Cooling Regulations
As temperatures drop in the Washington area, tenants look to their building’s owners to provide adequate heat. If landlords fail to comply, they could face a fine of $1,000 and other potential penalties and fees from the DC Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA).
District regulations now set “Turn On” date for heat as October 15 and the “Turn Off” date as May 15. District law does require that minimum temperatures be maintained in living areas during cold weather regardless of the calendar date. It is your right to be warm in the District.
What Landlords Must Do
Landlords must keep heating equipment in good repair and capable of maintaining a temperature of at least 70 degrees. In any living unit where the tenant cannot control or set the temperature, the building’s heat must be kept at least:
Get every furnace, boiler, and central heating system inspected between March 1 and September 1 of each year and submit the inspection report to DCRA.
What Tenants Must Do
Check your thermostat to make sure it’s on and in heat mode. Contact your landlord, property manager, or building superintendent to report your problem immediately.
If your problem is not solved, call DCRA’s housing inspections staff at (202) 442-9557.
If you need assistance during non-business hours, please call 311.
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