What happens if a tenant breaks a lease in District of Columbia?
In District of Columbia, if a tenant vacates a rental unit before the end of the lease term, or refuses in bad faith to take possession, any actual damages the housing provider may recover are subject to the housing provider’s duty to mitigate them. Separately, federal law lets a servicemember end a lease early after receiving qualifying military orders. This is D.C. Code § 42-3505.52.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Landlord’s duty to re-rent | Required by statute |
| What it means | The landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent |
Source
D.C. Code § 42-3505.52
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.
Guides on this rule
- Breaking a Lease by State: What the Tenant Owes — What a tenant owes after leaving a lease early, and the 34 states whose statutes say whether the landlord must try to re-rent the home.
Compare this rule in every state
More District of Columbia rules
- Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in District of Columbia?
- How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in District of Columbia?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering in District of Columbia?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in District of Columbia?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in District of Columbia?
- Is there a grace period for paying rent in District of Columbia?
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord change the locks to force a tenant out in District of Columbia?
- Does a landlord need a reason to evict a tenant in District of Columbia?
- How long does a tenant have to respond to an eviction case in District of Columbia?
- What are squatters’ rights in District of Columbia?
- What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in District of Columbia?
- Is there rent control in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher in District of Columbia?
- Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in District of Columbia?
- Can a tenant sublet in District of Columbia?
- Do contractors charge sales tax in District of Columbia?
- Is appliance repair taxable in District of Columbia?
- Every District of Columbia rule on one page