What are my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?

As a tenant in the District of Columbia, you have the right to live in a safe and habitable environment. This means that your landlord must maintain the property to meet certain standards, such as providing adequate heat, lighting, and ventilation, and ensuring that safety features, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, are functioning properly. You also have the right to quiet enjoyment of the rental unit, meaning that your landlord cannot enter without notifying you at least 24 hours in advance, and that they must respect your right to be free from harassment. You have the responsibility to pay rent on time as agreed upon in your lease. You must also follow all the rules and regulations that your landlord has set, such as respecting noise level limits, keeping common areas clean, and notifying your landlord if you will be away from the premises for more than 7 days. Finally, you have the responsibility to take care of the rental property. This means that you must keep up with any repairs or maintenance that is necessary to prevent further damage or degradation of the property. You are also responsible for damages or negligence caused by you, your guests, or your pets.

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What are my rights and responsibilities as a tenant?

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