30-Day Notice to Correct Violation of Obligation of Tenancy or Vacate

When to Use This Form: The 30-DAY NOTICE TO CORRECT VIOLATION OF OBLIGATION OF TENANCY OR VACATE is required before you can file an eviction lawsuit against your tenant based on the tenant’s violation of a valid written lease or the tenant’s violation of his or her responsibilities under the D.C. Housing Code. The violation of the lease or housing regulations must have occurred no more than six months before you issue this notice. D.C. law requires that you give the tenant a chance to correct the violations before you have the right to file a lawsuit to evict the tenant.
If the tenant has violated a written lease or the housing regulations and has also failed to pay rent, you can include the rent on this notice. If the tenant’s only violation is failing to pay rent, you should use the 30-DAY NONPAYMENT NOTICE TO QUIT form instead, even if you do not have a written lease.
If you are having problems with a tenant but the tenant is not violating a written lease or the housing code and is still paying the rent, you cannot use this form, and you may want to talk to a lawyer about your options.

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center provides general information only. This is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer. If you need legal advice for a specific situation, contact an attorney. We make every effort to keep the legal education materials up-to-date, but laws change frequently. Therefore, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.