D.C. landlords can no longer tack on separate fees for trash pickup and third-party utility billing under a law that took effect Aug. 14.

The Fair Housing Practices Amendment Act of 2026 also bars additional administrative charges for utility billing, metering and account maintenance, as first reported by DC News Now. A second provision kicks in Jan. 1, 2027, prohibiting landlords from separately billing tenants for utilities used in common areas or vacant units. That covers lobbies, leasing offices, pools, fitness centers and empty apartments.

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who introduced the bill, said on X on June 2 that the fees were "predatory" and "add thousands of $$ to housing."

Some buildings are already adjusting. In a Sept. 9 email shared with DC News Now, Atlantic Plumbing management told residents they would no longer be charged monthly trash or utility billing service fees, citing the new law.

But the law leaves one common billing practice untouched.

Ratio utility billing systems, known as RUBS, divide a building's total utility costs among tenants using a formula based on apartment size or occupant count. Individual usage doesn't factor in. "And what they do is they receive a utility bill, and then they split it up among all of the residents, regardless of what your individual consumption is," Lisa Banusiewicz, a D.C. renter who raised grievances against a prior landlord for overcharging tenants, told DC News Now.

That means a tenant who conserves water or electricity may not see a lower bill.

The law also does not guarantee lower overall housing costs. Landlords can still fold utility expenses into monthly rent rather than billing them separately.

According to DC News Now's report, the D.C. Attorney General's Office recommends that renters ask how each utility charge is calculated and request past bills before signing or renewing a lease. Current tenants should review their lease and utility statements and request written explanations of unclear charges, the office said.

Renters who cannot resolve billing concerns with their landlord can call the Attorney General's housing justice line at (202) 442-9828.

The Jan. 1, 2027, common-area billing ban is the next provision to take effect.