Tenants of 738 Longfellow Street, N.W. v. District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission

The Council of the District of Columbia has enacted various forms of rent control legislation, all designed to assure that moderate and low income housing does not disappear from the city’s housing stock. Kg., D.C.Code § 45-2501(3) (1986 Repl.) (legislative finding that housing shortage is most acutely felt among low and moderate income renters); D.C.Code § 45-2502(5) (1986 Repl.) (purpose of comprehensive statutory scheme to protect rights of low or moderate income in particular). To administer its rent control laws, the Council has established a Rental Housing Commission. Of concern here is…