Videos
Legislative Updates
Navigating Virginia's New AC Regulations in 2026
Welcome back to Offit Kurman’s 2026 Legislative Update Series. Gwen Roy-Harrison of the Virginia Landlord Representation Team explains a new Virginia law, effective July 1, 2026, that adds qualifying central air conditioning services to the definition of essential services under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (VRLTA). This installment explores how the change affects housing providers, including potential tenant remedies for AC outages, reasonable repair response times, and applicable Virginia Property Maintenance Code requirements. Learn four practical steps property managers can take to prepare: update maintenance policies, establish emergency response procedures, document repair efforts, and maintain clear communication with residents. Follow the series for practical guidance on legislative changes and landlord compliance.
September 7, 2026
Legislative Updates
Implications of Virginia's 2026 Legislative Update on Evictions
Welcome back to Offit Kurman’s 2026 Legislative Update Series. Gwen Roy-Harrison of the Virginia Landlord Representation Team discusses two new Virginia laws, effective July 1, 2026, that impact eviction proceedings and property management practices. This installment explores changes to the unlawful detainer process when tenants dispute the amount owed and the expanded ability for tenants to raise habitability and maintenance issues as defenses in nonpayment of rent cases. Learn what these updates mean for housing providers and why accurate rent ledgers, thorough maintenance records, and coordination with legal counsel are more important than ever. Follow the series for practical guidance on navigating legislative changes and maintaining compliance.
August 3, 2026
Property Management Playbook
Property Management Playbook
Introducing the Property Management Playbook, a new video series from Offit Kurman's Landlord Representation group. Billy Cannon sits down with Brian Dorwin, Jennifer Jean-Gilles, and Gwen Roy-Harrison to break down what property management clients actually deal with day to day, from argumentative tenants to maintenance best practices to fair housing compliance. New episodes coming soon!
July 1, 2026
DC Rental Act
Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act
In this episode of The DC Rental Act in Three Minutes, Offit Kurman attorneys Brian Dorwin and Gwen Roy Harrison break down how the Rental Act reshapes the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) for DC multifamily properties. They explain how TOPA once applied almost universally—often delaying closings and forcing landlords and developers into costly negotiations with tenant associations. The Rental Act changes that by introducing key exemptions that streamline transactions and reduce uncertainty. New construction properties (with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years), LIHTC properties, certain ownership transfers, and small landlords with two to four units may now be exempt from TOPA. The episode also highlights new notice requirements for current and incoming tenants—and why compliance still matters, even with statutory safeguards in place. The takeaway: these reforms are expected to unlock stalled deals and bring greater efficiency to DC’s multifamily market.
April 24, 2026
DC Rental Act
Navigating DC's Rental Act Changes in Eviction Procedures
In Episode 2 of The DC Rental Act in Three Minutes, Offit Kurman attorneys Brian Dorwin and Gwen Roy Harrison examine key changes to eviction procedures under the new Rental Act, with a focus on public safety cases. They explain how, under the prior law, landlords were required to issue a 30‑day notice with an opportunity to cure—and often had to wait for repeated misconduct—before filing an eviction. In situations involving violent or dangerous behavior, this left landlords and residents with limited immediate protection. The Rental Act introduces a major shift: a 10‑day notice to vacate with no cure provision for tenants alleged to have committed a dangerous crime or crime of violence. Landlords are no longer required to wait for a criminal conviction before acting, allowing for faster responses to serious threats. Brian and Gwen also note that many questions remain. Because the Act took effect so quickly and reshaped nearly every part of landlord‑tenant court, DC Superior Court and agencies are still interpreting how these provisions will work in practice. Early rulings in 2026 will be critical in shaping how the law is applied.
April 9, 2026
DC Rental Act
Understanding DC Protective Orders Under the Rental Act
The DC Rental Act has reshaped how protective orders work in eviction cases—making them faster, more consistent, and far more beneficial for housing providers. A protective order requires tenants to pay rent into the court registry rather than directly to the landlord, ensuring continued payment while a case is pending. Before the Rental Act, landlords often faced long delays. Tenants could raise even minor disputes, pushing protective‑order hearings months out and slowing down the eviction process. Now, judges are expected to issue preliminary protective orders at the very first hearing. Tenants may still request a Bell hearing or raise defenses, but they must begin making monthly payments immediately until the court adjusts the amount. Since the Act took effect, DC courts have been issuing protective orders more reliably at initial hearings—resulting in steadier payments and fewer procedural setbacks for landlords.
April 2, 2026
DC Rental Act
The DC Rental Act in Three Minutes: A New Series
In this kickoff episode of The DC Rental Act in Three Minutes, Offit Kurman attorneys Brian Dorwin, Gwen Roy Harrison, and Rob Donahue introduce the sweeping legislative changes that took effect in Washington, DC on January 1, 2026. The DC Rental Act—passed just one day earlier—marks one of the most significant shifts in landlord tenant law the District has seen in years. The team explains why this reform was long overdue. In 2024 and 2025, DC became an outlier in delinquencies and strained landlord tenant relationships. Affordable housing projects were destabilized, and many multifamily owners faced foreclosure or default. The Rental Act is the City Council’s attempt to correct course and bring greater balance and predictability to the system. Over the coming weeks, Brian, Gwen, and Rob will break down the Act’s most impactful components, including changes to court procedures, protective orders, TOPA, public safety evictions, and the new 10 and 30 day notice requirements. Because the law took effect so quickly, DC Superior Court is already interpreting it in real time—meaning early rulings are emerging, but many questions remain open. This series will help property owners, managers, and industry professionals understand how the Rental Act is being applied today and what to expect as litigation and guidance continue to develop throughout 2026.
March 24, 2026
