Property Management Laws in District of Columbia

Must a District of Columbia property management company have a real estate broker's license?

NO. The District of Columbia is somewhat unique in that a broker's license is not required of a property manager UNLESS he or she will be performing any activities that relate to the purchase, sale or exchange of the property, or negotiating a loan on the property. Property managers, however, must pass the DC property managers exam and obtain a property manager license. Those holding broker's licenses need not obtain a property manager license, as the broker's license is considered superior.

According to DC law, a "property manager" means an agent for the owner of real estate in all matters pertaining to property management. "Property management" is the leasing, renting or offering to lease or rent, managing, marketing, and the overall operation and maintenance of real estate. The term includes the physical, administrative, and fiscal management of any real property serviced by a licensee, or his or her employee or agent.

For more information about these and other D.C. property management requirements and exceptions, please contact the District of Columbia Real Estate Commission.

Before hiring a property manager to manage your D.C. rental property, you should always check that he or she is licensed appropriately. You can check the license status of D.C. property managers at Pearson's VUEs credentials management system.

District of Columbia Community Association Manager Licensing

A broker's license is not required to be a community or condo association manager in the District of Columbia. However, the Real Estate Board of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs does regulate community association managers as "commercial" property managers.

District of Columbia Property Manager Licensing Requirements

There are no pre-licensing requirements for property managers in D.C. However, there are some eligibility requirements:

• Able to read, write and understand English;
• Pass the DC Property Managers Exam;
• High school graduate or holder of a high school equivalency certificate;
• Has not had an application for a property manager's license denied, for reasons other than failure to pass the required examination, in DC or elsewhere, within one year prior to the date on which the application is filed;
• Is not on license suspension on date the application is filed;
• Has not had property managers license revoked within 3 years prior to the date the application is filed.

Real estate brokers licensed in the District of Columbia are considered to have satisfied the educational and examination requirements for licensure as property managers.