My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: DC
My roommate and I live in an apt in a small condo building in DC. We rent our apt and the people downstairs own their place (plus the woman is head of the condo association)--the entire building is managed by a property management realty company. We have repeatedly been told that since we are renters we are basically held to a different standard than the owners in the building (i.e. we are wrong).
Since we moved in 6 months ago, the woman downstairs has made numerous complaints claiming that we "stomp" when we walk around the apartment to the point where it is unbearable to them and their plates evidently rattle on the walls. Mind you, we are both about 130 lbs and in our late 20's. We have never had anyone in the apt with the exception of my boyfriend (who is not large and certainly does not stomp). We never play loud music or entertain guests or even walk around with our shoes on (we take them off by the door and tiptoe around). We have rugs covering more than 80% of the floors (as required by our lease). We have now received a formal letter from the property manager stating that we are disturbing the peace and living of the other tenants and that action will be taken if we do not stop. I have spoken to the property manager repeatedly about this situation and she has indicated that not only is it obviously a problem with the way that we walk (which she told us to change), but that more rugs will not help since it is the way we walk that is the problem. She has even come to take pictures of our rugs to show the lady downstairs (which I think is ridiculous).
Does anyone know of any tenants' rights laws in DC or grounds for me to get out of this lease? I think the property manager and owners are not going to want to let us out because they know she will have a problem with anyone renting our apt. I feel that this has risen to the level of harassment and I am just uncomfortable in my own apt. I have been looking at the DC Code but can't seem to find anything about tenants' rights with respect to breaking leases, etc.
I am just worried that if we don't get out now (with our security deposits) they will try to kick us out and we will lose our $$. Please help!

