When a property is occupied, each occupant 18 years or older must complete consent forms granting access for inspection. Washington, D.C. requires its own official form, and if you’ve hired RentJiffy to handle the inspection, we require a separate consent form as well.
Whether you’ve hired us or are handling the inspection yourself, we will provide the appropriate consent forms when your inspection is scheduled or when we advise you that an inspection is required.
Scenario 1: Tenant Refuses to Sign the DC Consent Form’s Access Section (for RentJiffy)
If the tenant will be home to allow the inspector in, this section does not need to be signed.
However, if someone other than the tenant will be providing access (e.g., owner, friend, agent), then:
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The access section must be completed with that person’s name (you may cross out "RentJiffy" if not applicable).
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The tenant must sign the bottom of this section of the form.
If the access method is lockbox, electronic lock, front desk keys, or anything other than the tenant being present, this section must be completed and signed. Otherwise, the form will not be accepted, and the inspection may be canceled or failed.
Scenario 2: Tenant Refuses to Sign the RentJiffy Consent Form
If the tenant declines to sign the RentJiffy consent form, the inspection can still proceed under the following conditions:
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The DC consent form has been properly completed and signed.
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Someone will be present at the property to escort the inspector.
Be sure to select “Someone Will Be Present” as the access method when submitting your inspection information.
Since our team will not have the tenant’s written permission to enter, the RentJiffy representative will remain outside the property and will gather notes (and photos, if possible) directly from the DC inspector to keep you updated.
Important: DC regulations require that inspectors be escorted through the property at all times. If no one is present to do so, the inspection may be canceled or marked as a failure.
Scenario 3: Tenant Refuses to Sign Any Consent Forms or Grant Access
While you might be inclined to say proceed with the inspection since you own the property, once it's leased, your tenant has the legal right to control access. Attempting to bypass this by granting access yourself—without tenant consent—can lead to legal issues for you and anyone else involved.
DC and RentJiffy both want to avoid legal issues which is why we require signed consent forms.
If the tenant is uncooperative or refuses access, we strongly recommend consulting with a real estate attorney familiar with D.C. landlord-tenant law. DC is a very tenant-friendly jurisdiction, so taking the wrong action can have serious consequences.
Be sure to have your lease on hand when speaking with an attorney. Depending on what clauses have been included in the lease, it may help them provide you options. If you need help finding legal support, check out our help desk article: When You Need Legal Help.
We're here to assist where we can, but legal issues involving access and tenant consent are best handled with the guidance of an attorney. Let us know how we can support you through the process.