leasing
TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act)
A DC law (D.C. Code §42-3404.02 et seq.) requiring an owner of a housing accommodation, before selling or vacating for demolition, to give tenants a bona fide offer of sale delivered by certified mail, tracked delivery, or hand, with a copy to the Mayor the same day. Rights vest on receipt, and the right to receive an offer cannot be waived. Timelines vary by size; for 5+ units, 45 days to register, 120 to negotiate, 120 to settle. Tenants get a 15-day right of first refusal on third-party contracts.
- Exam tip
- Know 45/120/120/360 for 5+ units, a 5% deposit cap, a 10% price-drop restart trigger, and that the owner bears the burden of proving an exemption.
- Example
- An owner offers a 30-unit building to tenants at $6,000,000. He then contracts with a third party at $5,300,000, more than 10% lower, so he must restart the TOPA offer.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23