WASHINGTON (7News) -- Affordable housing has been in crisis in the district. 7News looked into the mayor's rental act, which is on the table right now, and how the possible changes would impact families.
Tenant advocates and others are against the mayor's rental act, saying up to 70,000 households could lose their rights to fight back against negligent landlords.
Those in support say that it's what's needed to bring investors to the city.
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At the forefront of the housing conversation, there are changes to the Tenant's Opportunity to Purchase Assistance, known as TOPA. It gives tenants the right to come together and buy the property before the owner tries to sell it or issues notices to vacate to get rid of the property.
The mayor's rental act would cut people out of the program based on their income and standing.
Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau says that takes away renters' rights to protect themselves against landlords.
"There is an attack on the tenant opportunity to purchase act,' Nadeau said. "This law that's been on the books for 45 years and has kept tens of thousands of tenants in their homes."
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7News spoke to Liz DeBarros, CEO of the District of Columbia Building Industry Association. DeBarros, along with a room packed with investors and developers, showed up in support of the rental act.
"We've had a lot of regulations over the years. TOPA is obviously one of them that hasn't been modernized in several years," DeBarros said. "We feel modernizing it encourages investment."
Councilmembers, on the other hand, argue that there are predators in the housing industry who will take advantage of the fact that tenants don't know their rights.