Rent control proection for the elderly and persons with disabilities, April 1

Straight from the DC Tenants Coalition Yahoo Group:

The District of Columbia Office of the Tenant Advocate is co-sponsoring with IONA Senior Services a workshop on "Rent Control Protection for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities" on Thursday, April 1.   The workshop will be held from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at IONA Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle Street, NW.

The Rental Housing Act of 1985 (Act), as amended, includes provisions covering the amounts and frequency of rent increases for units subject to rent control in the District of Columbia.  Rent increases are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) plus 2%, with maximum amount of the rent increase capped at 10%.   However, rent increases for the elderly (62 years of age or older) and persons with disabilities are equal to the CPI-W or 5%, whichever is lower.

Many eligible renters in the District of Columbia are not aware of this valuable protection.  The Office of the Tenant Advocate is embarking on an educational campaign to educate elderly and disabled renters on how to take advantage of this protection.  During 2010, the Office of the Tenant Advocate will hold workshops in various locations throughout the city.  In addition, the Office of the Tenant Advocate will visit apartment buildings and complexes with substantial numbers of elderly and disabled renters and assist these renters with completing the application on-site.

Participants attending the April 1 workshop can complete the application on-site and the Office of the Tenant Advocate will submit the completed applications to the Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Regulation Administration.   Participants need to bring appropriate documentation to the workshop.  There is no processing fee and the protection is provided without regard to income.  We are finalizing plans for a workshop to be held in Ward 4.

Seating is limited.  Tenants can reserve space by calling the Office of the Tenant Advocate at 202-719-6560, faxing their request to 202-719-6585 or sending an email to delores (dot) anderson (at) dc (dot) gov.  You are cordially invited to attend if you work with the elderly or persons with disabilities and want to know more about this protection.  If you have any questions prior to the workshop you may contact the Office of the Tenant Advocate.

The nearest Metro station is the Tenleytown Metro Station on the red line.  The number 32 bus services the area.  For additional Metro information call 202-637-7000 or visit http://www.wmata.com/.