Prepare for Winter. Put Your Membership to Work. Plan Your Legacy.
Check out our Best Black Friday Special Yet
$49 annual maintenance plan, Tricorn Black paint special, winter readiness, Sequence, and planning for 2027.
A Note from the Association
Dear Members and Friends,
As Thanksgiving approaches, we are grateful for the landlords, vendors, professionals, and supporters who make the DC Landlord Association community possible. Your investment in rental housing supports residents, creates work for local businesses, and helps sustain our neighborhoods.
We also know that operating a rental property takes time, money, and consistent attention. Maintenance continues through the holidays. Licensing deadlines, tenant concerns, and property expenses still need to be addressed.
This November, we are focused on helping you prepare for winter, organize your rental business, and plan for the future. We are also introducing our best Black Friday special yet: a $49 annual Home Services and Maintenance Plan for eligible Partner Members, offering up to $588 in service value over 12 months.
Take a few minutes to review this issue, identify what your property needs, and contact us before a small concern becomes an expensive problem.
Thank you for being part of our community. We wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
The DC Landlord Association
Black Friday Special
Our Best Special Yet
Partner & Partner Plus members ONLY: Pay $49 for the year. Receive up to $49 in qualifying home services or maintenance (Labor ONLY) each month for 12 months.
That is up to $588 in annual service value for $49, a $539 difference and approximately 91.7% savings when all monthly benefits are used.
Created exclusively for eligible Partner Members, this plan helps you make routine property upkeep part of your monthly schedule.
How the plan works
One $49 annual plan payment.
Up to $49 in qualifying services each month for 12 months.
Monthly benefits must be used during the applicable month and do not carry over.
The $49 plan follows designated ward service dates on our monthly schedule.
Week 1: Wards 1 & 2
Week 2: Wards 3 & 4
Week 3: Wards 5 & 6
Week 4: Wards 7 & 8
Upgrade to the $99 annual plan for scheduling outside the designated ward service dates, subject to availability.
Ask about approved minor repairs and maintenance tasks for your property. Service eligibility, covered work, materials, and any charges above the monthly allowance must be confirmed when scheduling. The annual value assumes all 12 monthly benefits are used.
Black Friday is November 27, 2026
*** Pre-Order NOW ***
The $49 tier starts on January 1st 2027. The $99 tier starts on December 1st 2026
Vendor Member Deals Are Coming Soon @ https://www.dclandlord.org/black-friday
We are preparing additional offers from participating vendor members. Watch for upcoming announcements featuring services, products, and savings for our landlord community.
Introducing Sequence
Give Your Rental Cash Flow a Clear Plan
The rent is in. A lot of it is already spoken for.
Rent lands in one account. Then the turnover cleaning, the taxes, the mortgage, the repairs and your own pay all come out of that same balance. It looks like money you can spend. Not all of it is.
Sequence carries each rent payment through your plan, in order. Cleaning & Turnover first. Then Taxes. Then the Mortgage. Then your Repairs Reserve. Then Owner’s Pay, as part of the plan rather than whatever is left at the end of the month.
Your plan has one home you can open and read anytime, and it keeps applying after the month gets busy. You set every percentage. Change or pause any rule anytime.
DC Landlord Association members: your member offer is applied automatically at checkout through this link.
Your money. Your plan. Actually followed.
See how it works: getsequence.link/dclandlord
Legal Corner
Review Your File Before You File Your Case
A missed rent payment or lease violation can be stressful. Before taking legal action, make sure your documentation and proposed next steps receive the right review.
Organize your lease and addenda, rent ledger, tenant communications, notices, proof of service, licensing records, and relevant inspection or repair documents. Have an attorney evaluate the grounds for your case and the notice, service, and filing requirements that apply to your situation.
An incomplete file or procedural error can create avoidable delays and expenses. Holiday schedules also make it important to track deadlines and confirm court dates carefully.
The DC Landlord Association can help members organize records, identify questions, and connect with legal resources. Legal advice and representation should come from a licensed attorney.
Request Legal Resource and Document Organization Support
Compliance Corner
Is Your Rental Ready for Winter and Your Next Inspection?
November is a good time to review both property conditions and your compliance file.
Confirm the expiration date of your Basic Business License and begin renewal preparation early.
Review applicable rental registrations, exemption documentation, and inspection requirements.
Check heating equipment, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, exits, handrails, and exterior lighting.
Review outstanding violation notices and document completed repairs.
Update your emergency contacts and maintenance reporting instructions.
DLCP states that rental housing providers must obtain and pass the required inspection to obtain or renew their Basic Business License. DOB also identifies October 1 through May 1 as the general heating season, with specific provisions for systems that require additional transition time.
Schedule a property walkthrough and gather your licensing and inspection records. The Association can help coordinate preparation and identify items that need professional attention.
Request a Compliance Checkup
Maintenance Matters
Prepare Before the First Freeze
Cold weather can expose problems that were easy to overlook during warmer months. Prioritize heating service, gutter and downspout cleaning, roof and drainage checks, and protection for exposed plumbing.
Disconnect garden hoses and winterize outdoor water connections where appropriate. Check for drafts, leaks, basement moisture, and sump pump problems. Clear leaves from walkways and drains, and make sure exterior lights work as daylight hours shorten.
Share clear instructions with tenants for reporting a loss of heat, a water leak, or another urgent maintenance issue. A prompt report gives you a better chance to limit damage.
Schedule Winter Maintenance Support
Color of the Month
Give your property a fresh look with a bold black accent. Consider Tricorn Black for a front door, trim, shutters, or another carefully selected feature. Pair it with light siding, warm wood, or brick for a crisp finish.
Our vendor paint special comes with one FREE can of Tricorn Black paint when you book a qualifying painting service.
Ask about the qualifying project, can size, finish, product availability, and any additional materials before scheduling. Exterior work depends on weather and the paint manufacturer's application requirements.
Ask About the Free Paint Special
Management Matters
Keep Your Property Running Through the Holidays
Before Thanksgiving, confirm who will respond to tenant requests, approve emergency repairs, and check vacant units if you are away.
Review unpaid balances, upcoming lease expirations, open work orders, and available repair reserves. Give tenants one clear way to report maintenance concerns and provide the appropriate after-hours instructions.
For owners managing from a distance or juggling several responsibilities, dependable local support can make a meaningful difference. The Association can help connect members with property management, tenant communication support, inspections, and maintenance coordination.
Review Your Property Management Needs
Community Corner
November Giveback: Helping Seniors in DC
This November, the DC Landlord Association is giving back by helping seniors with small household tasks in homes they own and live in. A little help can make everyday life easier and keep our neighbors connected to their community.
Are you a senior homeowner who could use a helping hand?
Available to seniors in owner-occupied homes. Assistance is subject to availability and the scope of work.
Landlord Education
So You Want to Be a Landlord
November 14th 2026 @ 10a
Thinking about purchasing your first rental property? Already own one and want to operate it more effectively?
Our So You Want to Be a Landlord course introduces the practical work behind rental ownership, including property evaluation, financing, tenant screening, leases, licensing, maintenance, record-keeping, and building a reliable professional team.
Learn what to plan for before you purchase, what to organize before a tenant moves in, and when to seek professional guidance.
Contact us for the next session date, registration details, and membership eligibility.
One on One Strategy Sessions
Give 2027 a Clear Starting Point
What needs to change for your rental business next year?
Schedule a one on one strategy session to discuss your property, cash flow, maintenance backlog, management challenges, compliance needs, or investment goals.
Bring your questions and available records. Together, we can identify priorities, discuss resources, and outline practical next steps. Whether you are preparing to renovate, improve operations, acquire another property, or consider a sale, start with a plan that reflects your situation.
Request Your Strategy Session
Estate Planning for Landlords
Make Your Property Work for You Now and for Generations
Estate planning should address the life you want to live today as well as the legacy you want to leave. For landlords, that means planning for income, management continuity, future decisions, and the people who will benefit from the property.
A coordinated trust and LLC strategy may help organize those goals. For example, an attorney may evaluate whether a properly funded trust should hold your ownership interest in an LLC that owns rental property. The LLC operating agreement and trust documents need to work together so the right people have authority to act.
Use your planning session to discuss:
How property income will support your living expenses and long-term goals.
Who can manage the rental business if you become unable to do so.
Who will inherit ownership and who will make operating decisions.
How reserves, repairs, debt, and distributions will be handled.
Whether your heirs want to keep, manage, refinance, or sell the property.
A trust must be properly funded, and an LLC must be properly maintained. Before transferring property or ownership interests, have your attorney and tax adviser review lender requirements, insurance, taxes, title, and applicable DC rules.
A revocable living trust does not automatically reduce income taxes or protect assets from your own creditors. The value comes from choosing and implementing a structure that fits your family and business.
The DC Landlord Association can help you organize your goals and connect with estate planning resources.
Estate Planning Introduction
Vendor Spotlight
The Washington Realtors
Your property's next step may require leasing support, professional management, a sale, or an acquisition plan.
The Washington Realtors serves property owners and investors with real estate brokerage and property management services. For landlords evaluating their options, a property review can help clarify what needs attention and which services fit their goals.
Visit thewashingtonrealtors.com and mention the DC Landlord Association when making your inquiry.
Want Your Business Featured
We welcome inquiries from contractors, maintenance providers, attorneys, insurers, lenders, property managers, and other businesses serving rental property owners. Contact us about directory listings, newsletter features, and upcoming vendor member promotions.
Are you looking to sell your property?
We Buy Big is a team of real estate investors interested in connecting with property owners considering a sale. Whether you are ready to move on from a rental, simplify your portfolio, or explore your options, start a conversation about your property and goals.
Thank you to We Buy Big for sponsoring this month’s DC Landlord Association newsletter!
Visit webuybig.com or call 833-REO-CASH. Mention the DC Landlord Association when you reach out.
Put Your Membership to Work
Choose one action this month: schedule winter maintenance, check your license, organize your legal file, request a strategy session, or begin your estate plan.
DC Landlord Association
Website: dclandlord.org
Membership: dclandlord.org/join
Email: info@dclandlord.org
Call or text: 202-793-8600