RentRegistry - Rent Control Database

RentRegistry is Coming Soon!

RentRegistry, an online database for housing providers to register their rental properties, is designed to provide transparency and insights into DC’s rental housing market for a wide variety of stakeholders – prospective tenants, current tenants, housing providers, District leadership, policymakers and analysts, researchers, and members of the general public.

DHCD is excited by this transformative opportunity and is confident that the RentRegistry will streamline operations, provide vital data about the District’s rental housing market, improve access and convenience of submitting filings, allow easier access to information, and provide data to drive policy and legislative decision-making.

The RentRegistry will be released for public use on June 2, 2025. By August 31, 2025 (90 days), all housing providers must re-register their rental properties, regardless of whether the properties are currently exempt from rent stabilization. Beginning June 2, 2025, DHCD will not accept paper filings except eviction notices and housing provider petitions. All stakeholders, including housing providers, tenants, property managers, and agents, must use the RentRegistry.

RentRegistry Demonstrations and Trainings: DHCD will host a series of demonstrations and trainings for housing providers, tenants, and the general public in-person and virtually:

For additional information or questions on RentRegistry, please email raddatabase.inquiries@dc.gov.

Background:

DHCD administers the Rent Control / Rent Stabilization Program, a component of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 which regulates all residential rental housing in the District of Columbia and includes a Rent Stabilization Program, which is commonly referred to as “rent control.”

For 40 years, administration of the Act has been paper-based, requiring stakeholders to fill out and file paper forms. This process has proven challenging to efficiently track properties or rental units, forecast housing market trends, or provide necessary data for sound policy and legislative development.

In 2015, the Council of the District of Columbia required the development of RentRegistry pursuant to § 42-3502.03c of the Act. The system is an Internet-based program with portals designated specifically for tenants, housing providers, public information, and DHCD's administration. RentRegistry is designed to provide real-time, searchable information about buildings and rental units, base rents, services and facilities, rent adjustments, unit features, and vacancy status. The database will help streamline operations, provide vital data about the District’s rental housing market, improve access and convenience of submitting filings, allow easier access to information, and provide data to drive policy and legislative decision-making.

Initially, housing providers will be required to re-register their rental properties and enter rental accommodation data. Once this data population phase is completed, the RentRegistry will be ready for public use. Once the RentRegistry is publicly launched, RAD will not accept most paper filings; all stakeholders, including housing providers, property managers, agents, and tenants, must use the RentRegistry for most transactions.

Training Session Requirements

Laptop: A functional laptop with Internet access and pre-loaded with Google Chrome is required; you cannot use a mobile device to participate in the hands-on training. If you do not have Google Chrome on your computer, you may download a free copy from www.google.com/chrome/. Google Chrome is also available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Required Documents: You will need these documents during training. Bring copies of your documents - current registration, basic business license (BBL), certificate of occupancy (COO) (if applicable), deed, and affordability covenants or housing choice voucher (HCV) contract (as appliable).
Scan Required Documents: DHCD encourages you to Scan and Upload copies of your BBL, COO, deed, covenants or HCV contract (as applicable), and rate of return computations (for rent-stabilized rental accommodations only) onto your computer in advance of the training.
RentRegistry Demonstration Video: DHCD encourages you to watch the recording of the RentRegistry Demonstration. Here is the link to Watch the RentRegistry Demonstration.
RentRegistry Training Manuals: Review RentRegistry Training Manuals and the Grid Template in advance. User manuals are available on DHCD’s RentRegistry page. Reviewing the manuals in advance will give you sense of RentRegistry features. Here are links to the manuals: User Guide Housing Provider Portal and User Guide Tenant Portal.
Grid Template: Download and play with the Grid Template. The Grid Template will assist housing providers with a large number of rental units with organizing information. The Grid can be used to upload information for many rental units rather than making duplicative data entries. You can download the grid template here: Grid Template.
Rate of Return: For housing providers with rent-stabilized rental accommodations, calculate your Rate of Return (ROR) in advance. Section 42-3502.05(f)(3)(D)(iv) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985 requires that housing providers must provide the Rate of Return and computations at the time of registration. A Rate of Return guideline is available here: dhcd.dc.gov/ publication/form-1-rad-registration-claim-exemption-form.