A new DC Council bill just got a public hearing that could give short-term rental hosts a real tool against guests who won't leave. Here's what it would do.
What's changing
Bill 26-757 received a public hearing before the DC Council
It would let hosts treat guests who overstay their booking as trespassers under DC law
That gives police clearer legal authority to remove an overstaying guest, rather than treating it as a civil landlord-tenant matter
What to do now
This bill hasn't passed yet, but it's worth getting ahead of. A written lease or booking agreement that clearly states the checkout date and time becomes the evidence police would need to act on if this becomes law — a verbal booking through a platform app may not be enough on its own. Make sure every booking you take includes an unambiguous, dated checkout time in writing, and keep a copy on file for every reservation.
Don't get caught off guard by the next rule change.
The Host's Edge tracks short-term rental regulation changes every week, in plain English — free.