Immigrant Eligibility for Disaster Assistance
(Separate Website)
If you or any of your family are not U.S. citizens, this resource can help you find help after a distaster.
By: The American Red Cross, National Council of La Raza, and National Immigration Law Center
If Your Landlord Is Trying To Evict You Without Going To Court This is a letter that you can send to your landlord if he or she is trying to evict you without filing an action in Landlord and Tenant Court. Such evictions are called "self-help" evictions, and they are illegal in the District of Columbia.
Tenant's Guide to Safe and Decent Housing
(Separate Website)
The Tenant's Guide To Safe and Decent Rental Housing describes the various codes, rules, and regulations that help to provide and maintain safe and decent housing. The Guide also provides detailed discussions of what to do when you find that your rights have been violated, and need assistance in resolving the problem.
By: D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Tenant Petition / Complaint The form that you use to file a complaint with the RACD about the conditions of your rented home.
By: RACD
Housing Discrimination
By: Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
What You Should Know About Rent Control in the District This pamphlet will help you understand rent control laws and regulations.
By: DCRA
Appeals and Motions for Reconsideration in Landlord-Tenant Cases
This resource contains frequently asked questions for people who do not agree with decisions made by judges in their Landlord-Tenant cases.
NOTE: These questions do not talk about how to handle default judgments or dismissals entered because you missed a court hearing.
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
Home Ownership & Foreclosures
Foreclosures
By: DC Bar Antitrust and Consumer Law Section
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
My Home Has Been Foreclosed -- Now What?
By: Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section
What Do I Need to Know About Refinancing My Mortgage?
Frequently asked questions about refinancing, equity, and protecting your home from foreclosure.
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
Glossary of Loan Terms
Definitions of terms used in the context of loans and lending.
By: D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program
100 Questions and Answers About Buying a New Home
(Separate Website)
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Affordability Calculator
(Separate Website)
This website helps you calculate how much you can afford to spend when purchasing a home.
By: Ginnie Mae
Avoiding Predatory Lenders
(Separate Website)
Comprehensive information about predatory loans, including a list of seven signs of predatory lending.
By: Center for Responsible Lending
Common Questions of First-time Homebuyers
(Separate Website)
This document contains frequently asked questions that first-time homebuyers have about purchasing a home.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint with HUD
(Separate Website)
Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
HUD Homes (Answers to Common Questions)
(Separate Website)
This web page explains how to buy a HUD Home and provides links to properties that are available near you for purchase from HUD. When someone with a mortgage insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can't meet their payments, the lender forecloses on the home. HUD pays the lender what is owed and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then HUD sells it at market value as quickly as possible.
By: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Information on Mortgage and Home Equity Loans from the Federal Trade Commission
(Separate Website)
This web site contains documents relating to: (1) home equity loans, home equity credit lines and common home equity scams, (2) high rate, high fee mortgages, (3) reverse mortgages, and (4) mortgage discrimination. You may view the documents on-line and print them out or print them in PDF format.
By: Federal Trade Commission
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Reverse Mortgages
(Separate Website)
A reverse mortgage is a loan against your home that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live in your home. With a reverse mortgage, you can turn the value of your home into cash and not have to make monthly repayments. The total loan must be paid back when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves away.
Reverse mortgages are quite a bit different from other types of debt. These loans can be complicated, and you have a lot at stake. So be sure to investigate reverse mortgages carefully before deciding if one makes sense for you.
By: AARP Legal Services Network
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
LawHelp.org/DC is a project of the D.C. Consortium of Legal Service Providers with financial support provided by the D.C. Bar Foundation and the Legal Services Corporation.
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Referral Locator
(Separate Website)
