Selling your home without an agent inDistrict of Columbia

D.C. Code § 42-1301(a)(1)

D.C. Chapter 13 seller-disclosure duties apply only to transfers or sales of District real estate containing one to four residential dwelling units through the listed sale or purchase-option transaction types, and § 42-1301(a)(2) separately requires the purchaser’s written intent to reside.

D.C. Code § 42-1302(a)

For property within § 42-1301(a), the transferor must sign and deliver the Mayor-approved real property disclosure statement to the prospective transferee; for a sale, delivery is due before or when the transferee executes the purchase agreement.

D.C. Code § 42-1302(c)

Subject to § 42-1302(d), a prospective transferee who receives a required disclosure after executing the transaction document may terminate by written notice within five calendar days after receipt, and deposits made to the transferor must be promptly returned.

42 U.S.C. § 4851b(27)

Federal lead-disclosure law generally defines target housing as housing constructed before 1978, subject to the statutory elderly, disability, zero-bedroom, child-occupancy, and jurisdiction-specific exceptions.

42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(B)

Before a purchaser or lessee is contractually obligated for target housing, the seller or lessor must disclose known lead-based paint or hazards and provide available lead-hazard evaluation reports.

42 U.S.C. § 4852d(a)(1)(C)

For a target-housing sale, the seller must permit the purchaser a 10-day lead risk-assessment or inspection period unless the parties mutually agree to a different period.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.02(a)

Before a covered D.C. housing accommodation is sold, or a demolition/discontinuance notice to vacate is issued, the owner must give the tenant an opportunity to purchase on bona fide offer-of-sale price and terms.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.02(f)

TOPA rights vest when the offer of sale is received and do not apply to a tenant who begins occupying after the offer is issued.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.02b(b)(20)

A sale or transfer of an interest in a new multifamily building is excluded from TOPA when permanent-certificate-of-occupancy completion occurred within the 15 years before sale, provided the required Notice of Transfer is sent to tenants.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.02b(c)

The owner bears the burden to establish that a D.C. property or transfer is exempt from TOPA and the related District opportunity-to-purchase subchapter.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.03(b)(1)

For a covered offer of sale, the owner must provide each tenant a written copy by certified mail, a tracked delivery service, or hand delivery, using the accommodation address unless the tenant supplied another notice address in writing.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.03(b)(2)

On the same date tenant copies are sent, the owner must provide the Mayor a written copy of the offer and a signed confirmation that each tenant received a copy.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.09(a)

Single-family accommodations are outside the general TOPA subchapter except for the specific provisions preserved in § 42-3404.09.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.09(b)(1)

A single-family owner who intends to sell must notify the tenant in writing within three calendar days after receiving or soliciting a written purchase offer.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.09(c)(1)

Modified TOPA rights apply when a single-family tenant is elderly or has a disability on the offer date, signed the rental agreement by March 31, 2018, and took occupancy by April 15, 2018.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.10(a)

The § 42-3404.10 purchase process applies to two-to-four-unit accommodations majority-owned by a statutory business corporation, except two-unit single-family accommodations.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.10(a)(2)(A)

After a tenant or tenant group submits a letter of intent in the covered two-to-four-unit process, the owner must allow a reasonable contract-negotiation period of at least 90 days, extended one day for each day the owner delays required information.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.10(b)

A two-to-four-unit accommodation not majority-owned by the defined business corporation is exempt from the general TOPA subchapter, but its tenants retain the § 42-3404.09(b) notice and rights.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.11(2)

For a covered accommodation with five or more units, the owner must allow the tenant organization at least 120 days from receipt of its registration statement to negotiate, extended one day for each day of owner delay in providing required information.

D.C. Code § 42-3404.11(3)(A)

For a covered accommodation with five or more units, the owner must allow the tenant organization a reasonable pre-settlement financing period of at least 120 days after contracting.