Condo Conversion Laws

In DC we have strict laws regarding the sale of a rental property and the conversion of that property into condos. While in the past condo conversion contributed to an upswing the DC housing market, the condo conversion laws in the District (name for DC) need to be re-examined.

I have a friend who lives in an older building in the heart of much of the DC revitalization. It is amazing that this building has escaped conversion in the past. It is just a few blocks from the hot U St NW Corridor.

While the laws have been somewhat protective of them, the Tenant's Board and their attorney that is involved in this matter have used practices that I find questionnable. First, they have been using what one tenant refers to as a slush fund to pay off tenants. Tenants that don't buy in the building have been given an amount they will get (based on the size of their units) but many people have been offered more money in an effort to get them to vote.

Also low income elderly persons get an exemption where if they don't vote in the conversion vote then they can stay for a period of time in their units. But some of the elderly tenats have been allegedly given money and leases that if they waives their exemption and voted for the conversion. Of course none of this has been illegal unfortunately.

DC Council needs to look at the conversion law and make sure people are being protected. Right now the election to convert was very very close. The DC Government is reviewing it right now ut no one knows when they will let anyone know, but the developer is planning to start moving people out.