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ARTICLE · 05 JUNE 2025

TOPA Reform Alert

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As reported in our April 2025 Alert on March 3, 2025, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson introduced the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act (B26-0164)...

United StatesReal Estate and Construction
Roger D. Winston
Roger D. Winston
Forrest Albiston
Forrest Albiston
Kyle A. DeThomas
Kyle A. DeThomas
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As reported in our April 2025 Alert on March 3, 2025, DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson introduced the Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act (B26-0164), which includes proposed amendments to the DC Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA). Among other things, the RENTAL Act would exempt certain transactions from TOPA. As presently drafted, the RENTAL Act would not require a TOPA Offer of Sale for the following rental housing transfers:

  1. Newly constructed or substantially improved* buildings within 25 years prior to the transfer, if at least 51 percent of the units have average rents that exceed a rental rate affordable to households earning at or below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI); and

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