What is the Tenant Opportunity to
Purchase Act or TOPA?
What is the Tenant Opportunity to
Purchase Act or TOPA?
The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) is a law that says a landlord who wants to sell a multi-family rental building in DC must first give their tenants the chance to purchase the building.
The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) is a law that says a landlord who wants to sell a multi-family rental building in DC must first give their tenants the chance to purchase the building.
TOPA Options
Under TOPA, tenants must agree as a group on how they want to use their TOPA rights. They do this by forming a tenant association. Tenants then have the option to decide as an association to use their TOPA rights to either purchase the property themselves, or decide who purchases it and under what terms. Listed below are the ways the tenant association can choose to exercise their TOPA rights:
If your building is up for sale, you still have the right to stay through a sale, and to keep your existing leases. You do not have to move or sign a new lease during this time.
TOPA Options
Under TOPA, tenants must agree as a group on how they want to use their TOPA rights. They do this by forming a tenant association. Tenants then have the option to decide as an association to use their TOPA rights to either purchase the property themselves, or decide who purchases it and under what terms. Listed below are the ways the tenant association can choose to exercise their TOPA rights:
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If your building is up for sale, you still have the right to stay through a sale, and to keep your existing leases. You do not have to move or sign a new lease during this time.
TOPA Benefits
TOPA is one of DC’s critical tools for addressing the lack of affordable housing, preventing the displacement of DC residents, and giving tenants a voice in what happens in their neighborhoods. Since TOPA was enacted in 1980, the law has:
TOPA Benefits
TOPA is one of DC’s critical tools for addressing the lack of affordable housing, preventing the displacement of DC residents, and giving tenants a voice in what happens in their neighborhoods. Since TOPA was enacted in 1980, the law has:
Examples of TOPA
“I can’t speak to the preservation of the city and my culture in the city if I’m not here. TOPA is preserving our ability to be here. It’s also raising our consciousness in the community around organizing.”
ChelseaDee Harrison
Board Secretary, 11 Nicholson St NW Co-op
TOPA Option: Continue Renting
TOPA Option: Form a Co-op
Get Involved
Exercise Your TOPA Rights
As a DC resident you have rights under TOPA to decide the future of your housing. Knowing your rights and what resources are available to you gives you the power to protect and improve your housing in the event your building goes up for sale. Use the resources in the section below to familiarize yourself with your rights and the organizations that offer assistance in guiding you through the TOPA process.
If you are a tenant in a building that is currently up for sale and need more support, be sure to download the resources below or click the ‘get support’ button to connect to organizations who can provide more extensive support throughout the TOPA process.
Advocate for Your TOPA Rights
While TOPA is a critical tool for creating and preserving affordable housing in the District, there are gaps in funding and support that make it more difficult for tenants to access their TOPA rights. We are working in partnership with other affordable housing providers and policymakers to ensure that those gaps are closed and that TOPA rights remain in place for all DC residents.
Click the ‘support’ button to see how you can join us in holding our government accountable to provide the critical funding and policy support it needs to fully realize its fundamental purpose of building tenant power and preventing displacement.