Tenants have a legal obligation to keep the premises in a clean and sanitary condition and pay the agreed upon rent. Failure to do so may result in eviction or forfeiture of security deposit funds. The law imposes certain duties on a landlord to maintain the premises in habitable condition. Failure to do so, such as providing adequate weatherproofing, available heat, water and electricity, and clean, sanitary and structurally safe premises, may be legal justification for a tenant's defensive acts, such as moving out (even in the middle of a lease), paying less rent, withholding the entire rent until the problem is fixed, making necessary repairs (or hiring someone to make them and deducting the cost from next month's rent) The landlord may be sued for a partial refund of past rent, and in some circumstances can be sued for the discomfort, annoyance and emotional distress caused by the substandard conditions. States typically require landlords to provide a specific amount of notice (usually 24 or 48 hours) before entering a rental unit. In some states, landlords must provide a "reasonable" amount of notice, legally presumed to be 24 hours.

District of Columbia Official Code
HISTORY OF THE D.C. CODE POSTSCRIPT ACTS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ITS VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SELF-GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL REORGANIZATION ACT ACTS RELATING TO CORPORATION OF GEORGETOWN CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW COLUMBIA CONSTITUTION FOR THE STATE OF NEW COLUMBIA EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT RATIFICATION ACT OF 1978 DIVISION I GOVERNMENT OF DISTRICT    TITLE 1. GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION    TITLE 2. GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION    TITLE 3. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS    TITLE 4. PUBLIC CARE SYSTEMS    TITLE 5. POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS, AND CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER    TITLE 6. HOUSING AND BUILDING RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS    TITLE 7. HUMAN HEALTH CARE AND SAFETY    TITLE 8. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANIMAL CONTROL AND PROTECTION    TITLE 9. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS    TITLE 10. PARKS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SPACE DIVISION II JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE    TITLE 11. ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS    TITLE 12. RIGHT TO REMEDY    TITLE 13. PROCEDURE GENERALLY    TITLE 14. PROOF    TITLE 15. JUDGMENTS AND EXECUTIONS; FEES AND COSTS    TITLE 16. PARTICULAR ACTIONS, PROCEEDINGS AND MATTERS    TITLE 17. REVIEW DIVISION III DECEDENTS' ESTATES AND FIDUCIARY RELATIONS    TITLE 18. WILLS    TITLE 19. DESCENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND TRUSTS    TITLE 20. PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION OF DECEDENTS' ESTATES    TITLE 21. FIDUCIARY RELATIONS AND THE MENTALLY ILL DIVISION IV CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE AND PRISONERS    TITLE 22. CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND PENALTIES    TITLE 23. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE    TITLE 24. PRISONERS AND THEIR TREATMENT DIVISION V LOCAL BUSINESS AFFAIRS    TITLE 25. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE REGULATION    TITLE 26. BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS    TITLE 27. CIVIL RECOVERY BY MERCHANTS FOR CRIMINAL CONDUCT    TITLE 28. COMMERCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS    TITLE 29. CORPORATIONS    TITLE 30. HOTELS AND LODGING HOUSES    TITLE 31. INSURANCE AND SECURITIES    TITLE 32. LABOR    TITLE 33. PARTNERSHIPS    TITLE 34. PUBLIC UTILITIES    TITLE 35. RAILROADS AND OTHER CARRIERS    TITLE 36. TRADE PRACTICES    TITLE 37. WEIGHTS, MEASURES, AND MARKETS DIVISION VI EDUCATION, LIBRARIES, AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS    TITLE 38. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS    TITLE 39. LIBRARIES AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS DIVISION VII PROPERTY    TITLE 40. LIENS    TITLE 41. PERSONAL PROPERTY    TITLE 42. REAL PROPERTY DIVISION VIII GENERAL LAWS    TITLE 43. CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIES    TITLE 44. CHARITABLE AND CURATIVE INSTITUTIONS    TITLE 45. COMPILATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF CODE    TITLE 46. DOMESTIC RELATIONS    TITLE 47. TAXATION, LICENSING, PERMITS, ASSESSMENTS, AND FEES    TITLE 48. FOODS AND DRUGS    TITLE 49. MILITARY    TITLE 50. MOTOR AND NON-MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC    TITLE 51. SOCIAL SECURITY   The contents of these statutes are current through amendments received as of January 25, 2006. For amendments subsequent to that date, use the Update feature. Note: Your browser must have cookies enabled to access the District of Columbia Official Code. Click here for more information about enabling cookies in your browser.