7703 TRANSFERS REQUESTED BY TENANTS

7703.1 Subject to the provisions of Chapter 77, a tenant may request to transfer to another Public Housing unit. Except for the exceptions under VAWA stated in this Chapter 77, all requests for transfer must be submitted to DCHA in writing.

7703.2 With the exception of approved VAWA requests, DCHA will only approve transfer requests for families that are in compliance with the terms and conditions of their leases and have resided in their dwelling units for at least one (1) year. However, DCHA may make exceptions to this requirement when it is to DCHA's advantage to transfer the family.

7703.3 Families with a disabled household member that request reasonable accommodation transfers and families requesting a transfer pursuant to VAWA, as described below, are not subject to the one (1) year limitation.

7703.4 A family is compliant with the terms and conditions of its lease if the family:

1. (a) Is current on rent payments or on any repayment agreement, consent judgment agreement, or settlement agreement;
2. (b) Is current with recertification process;
3. (c) Is not subject to a citation for any lease violation;
4. (d) Has a good housekeeping record as evidenced by a housekeeping inspection; and
5. (e) Is not subject to a Notice to Correct or Vacate or a Notice to Vacate.

7703.5 DCHA shall acknowledge receipt of each tenant request for transfer. The date of acknowledgment shall serve as the Tenant Request for Transfer date, which will be used by DCHA to determine the family's place on the transfer waiting list.

7703.6 [RESERVED].

7703.7 Tenant requests for transfers that DCHA considers are limited to requests for:

1. (a) Transfers to alleviate a verified medical condition of serious or life-threatening nature;
2. (b) Transfers due to a verified threat of physical harm or criminal activity. Such circumstances may, at DCHA's discretion, include an assessment by law enforcement indicating that a family member is the actual or potential

victim of a criminal attack, retaliation for testimony, or a hate crime, including VAWA transfer requests;

(c) Reasonable accommodation;

(d) Kinship Care or court-ordered custody transfers to a different unit size as long as the family qualifies for the unit according to DCHA's occupancy standards;

(e) Transfers to a location closer to employment; and

(f) No other tenant transfer requests are considered by DCHA.

7703.8 [RESERVED]

7703.9 Transferring residents do not have to meet the admission eligibility requirements pertaining to income or preference.

7703.10 If an applicant family accepted a unit size smaller than designated by the occupancy guidelines, the family is not eligible to transfer to a larger size unit for a period of one (1) year from the date of admission, unless they have a change in family size or composition, or it is needed as a reasonable accommodation.

7703.11 When a family transfers from one unit to another, DCHA transfers their security deposit to the new unit. The tenant is billed for any maintenance or others charges due for the "old" unit.

7703.12 DCHA must pay moving expenses to transfer a resident with a disability to an accessible unit as an accommodation for the resident's disability.

7703.13 The resident bears all the costs of transfer due to the resident's requests. However, DCHA bears the transfer costs when the transfer is done as a reasonable accommodation.

7703.14 Residents requesting a transfer to another unit or development are required to submit a written request using DCHA's required form for transfer.

7703.15 To request the emergency transfer under VAWA, the resident is required to submit an emergency transfer request form (HUD-5383). Consistent with § 8107, DCHA may, on a case-by-case basis, waive this requirement. Transfer requests under VAWA are processed in accordance with DCHA's emergency transfer plan.

7703.16 In the case of a reasonable accommodation transfer, DCHA encourages the resident to make the request in writing using a reasonable accommodation request

form. However, DCHA considers the transfer request any time the resident indicates that an accommodation is needed whether or not a formal written request is submitted.

7703.17 DCHA responds to a resident transfer request by approving the transfer and putting the family on the transfer list, by denying the transfer, or by requiring more information or documentation from the family, as allowable.

7703.18 If the family does not meet the requirements outlined in §§ 7703.2 and 7703.3 except where noted above, the property manager shall address the problem and, until resolved, the request for transfer shall be denied.

7703.19 DCHA responds within ten (15) business days of the submission of the family's request. If DCHA denies the request for transfer, the family is informed of its grievance rights.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 007351 (May 15, 2026).