Dear PoP – Landlord and Tenant Edition

“Woodfall’s Law of Landlord and Tenant”, originally uploaded by umjanedoan.

Last Friday’s question of the day has inspired a couple of follow up questions.

“Can you do a post that explains in detail exactly what you need to do (license, inspection etc.) to become a landlord in D.C.? I want something I can use as a checklist. When I go to the D.C. Housing authority Web site they simply talk about how renters can sue landlords, no real map there for someone considering becoming a landlord.”

Sadly, I cannot. However, since the readers knew an officiant for VA marriages, I’m hopeful someone can point you in the right direction.

Now from the tenants point of view:

“Dear PoP,

I live in a group house in Shaw with four other young professionals, and our lease is up at the end of the month. In the past two of the roommates have signed the lease and others have paid them. This has worked well so far, but now at least three of us are considering moving out in the next year. We’re looking for a lease agreement that lets tenants be directly responsible to the landlord for their own rent, but also gives them a reasonable way to leave while protecting the landlord’s income and property. Perhaps a lease that lets tenants vacate if they give notice and identify a replacement that the house approves of.”

A little help?