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District of Columbia Code Division VII. Property. § 42-3551.04. Responsibilities of the Department.

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

<Text of section applicable upon the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of D.C. Law 24-238 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(a)(1) The Department shall notify a housing provider of a complaint from a tenant within 10 business days of receipt of the complaint. A housing provider shall have 10 business days from the date on which the housing provider receives the notice to respond and submit any of the following applicable information:

(A) Documentation and communications with the tenant that demonstrate a good faith effort to reasonably accommodate the tenant's needs to comply with any preparations necessary for inspection or eradication measures;

(B) Documentation and communications that demonstrate that the housing provider has made a good faith effort to schedule an inspection or eradication measures, or documentation of any extenuating circumstances that resulted in the inspection or treatment measures being delayed and rescheduled;

(C) An inspection report by a pest control professional demonstrating that the dwelling unit does not currently have a bedbug infestation;

(D) A report by a pest control professional demonstrating that eradication measures to eradicate bedbugs are in the process of being completed or have been completed; or

(E) If that a pest control professional has completed eradication measures in the dwelling unit and determined that no evidence of bedbugs can be found, evidence of monitoring services currently in use in the dwelling unit.

(2)(A) If the housing provider fails to respond to the Department's notice within 10 business days of receipt or does not provide adequate documentation pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department shall:

(i) Order the housing provider to take specific steps to accommodate a tenant's needs, schedule an inspection, or schedule eradication measures; and

(ii) Issue a notice of infraction.

(B) A housing provider's violation of this paragraph shall be a Class 4 infraction subject to a fine under § 3201.1(d).

(3) The Department shall include, with the written notice required by paragraph (1) of this subsection, information on the Bedbug Remediation Assistance Program established in section 6 and an application form for the Program. Proof of application to the Program shall toll further actions by the Department until a decision is made on whether the owner property is entitled to financial assistance.

(b) The Department shall create and publish a form, to be used by housing providers, for purposes of notifying tenants of any history of bedbug infestations in a building within the last 120 days.

(c) The Department shall conduct outreach efforts to housing providers and tenants for the purposes of educating the public about bedbugs and create and publish educational materials for tenants and housing providers, including a pamphlet that contains, at a minimum, the following information:

(1) Specific facts about the bedbug, including its lifecycle, appearance, and breeding habits;

(2) Behaviors that are risk factors for attracting and supporting the presence of bedbugs;

(3) Measures that may be taken to prevent and control the presence of bedbugs in a dwelling unit or rental property; and

(4) The responsibilities and rights of tenants and housing providers under this act.

(d) The Department shall enter into an agreement with the Department of Energy and Environment to access and collect information on licensed pest control professionals in the District.

(e) The Mayor may, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue rules to implement the provisions of this act.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - District of Columbia Code Division VII. Property. § 42-3551.04. Responsibilities of the Department. - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/dc/division-vii-property/dc-code-sect-42-3551-04/

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