My tenant signed a two year lease in corporation name and never registered named in DC. The company appears to be out of business and my tenant has moved all his belongings out except a fouton.

He hasn't paid June rent and won't return any emails/phone calls on the subject. Can I assume he has terminated the lease and rerent it. The property is in the District and I asked a lawyer friend and he said "if I can give you one piece of free advice it would be don't change the locks as you will become a piggy bank for you tenant". Why? What can I do.

In additon to violating the lease for non-payment, he also violated it by having pets, smoking and doing construction in the unit.

Help!

Your lawyer friend is correct; file eviction papers tomorrow for non payment of rent.

You have a signed lease? What does it say about default by tenant? What does the lease say about damages? What does the lease say about notice to the tenant of terminating the tenancy? Are you in the same District that totally banned handguns? You need to be up-to-speed on tenant rights, as well.