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Archives: FAQs

What specific accessibility upgrades are planned throughout the property?

The renovations include an extensive set of accessibility improvements throughout the property, including:

Building Entrances & Common Areas

  • Automatic doors at the old Georgetown Road entrance into the lobby
  • Automatic sliding doors at the West elevator bank entrance and the main lobby entrance off the roundabout
  • An accessible restroom in the leasing office and a new accessible restroom off the main lobby
  • All unit mailboxes enlarged, lowered to accessible reach ranges, and upgraded to include accessible parcel lockers subject to USPS standards
  • Swimming pool area upgrades, including correction of the exterior pool ramp slope, replacement of handrails, replacement of pool pavers, installation of pool stairs, creation of a pool bench inside the pool and replacement of exterior door leading to the pool deck
  • Shower and locker rooms modified to meet current accessibility codes

Unit Interiors

  • Balcony/patio sliding doors replaced with swing doors for easier operation
  • Bifold closet doors replaced with swing doors
  • New flooring suitable for residents with any range of mobility impairment

Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (UFAS) Compliant Units

  • Removable sink bases that allow full knee clearance when the front panel is detached
  • Lower countertops and all switches and devices mounted within accessible reach ranges
  • Washers and dryers on pedestals for improved reach range
  • Devices for vision- and hearing-impaired residents, such as visual strobes that supplement doorbells

How will landlord-approved modifications made by mobility-impaired residents be handled?

If you have an approved Reasonable Accommodation on file, the construction team will incorporate those modifications into the final unit you will be returning to as part of the renovation. If you are temporarily placed in a different unit during your renovation period, staff will work to locate a temporary unit that is equipped to meet the requirements of your approved Reasonable Accommodation.

Please note that not all temporary units will be able to accommodate every Reasonable Accommodation. In such case, HOC will engage with you in an interactive process. HOC is responsible for providing approved modifications on a permanent basis in your renovated unit if a Reasonable Accommodation has been granted. There may be some cases where modifications are not feasible in the original unit, and in those situations, HOC and property management will work with you to find a suitable alternative unit.

Please contact the General Manager for The Metropolitan to ensure that property management is aware of all approved Reasonable Accommodations.

Leonard Stewart
General Manager
The Metropolitan
301.652.1555
metropolitan@bozzuto.com 

How will my rent be affected as a result of the renovations?

Residents in Affordable units
Rents will remain unchanged throughout their current lease term. Annual rent increase amounts will remain subject to Montgomery County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) Voluntary Rent Guidelines (VRG).

All other residents
Under rent stabilization, a landlord may petition for an exemption from rent stabilization for an existing building if they conduct substantial, permanent renovations that enhance the building’s value and cost at least 40% of the building’s value.

On June 15, 2026, HOC received a Preliminary Administrative Approval of a Substantial Renovation Exemption under the rent stabilization law from DHCA. Final Approval will be granted after the renovation of the entire building is completed. Once Final Approval of the Exemption has been granted, the rent increases must be implemented within 12 months, however, if there are existing tenants in the rental unit landlords must wait until the current lease term ends before implementing rent increases. Additionally, landlords must give tenants at least 90 days’ prior written notice of any rent increase. 

The amount of your rent increase depends on a number of factors, including your unit type and your existing rent. Final rents will be determined if and when the final approval of the Substantial Renovation Application is received.

What is the difference between a market rate unit and an affordable rate unit?

An affordable rate unit refers to a unit with income and/or rent restrictions designed to be affordable for low- to moderate-income households, often supported by programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), or other housing subsidies.

A market rate unit refers to units with no income restrictions. 

How will market rate rents be calculated when renovations are completed?

Once all renovations at The Metropolitan are completed, market rate rents will be determined based on the rental market conditions that exist at that time in Bethesda and the surrounding Montgomery County area. Factors that will be taken into consideration include, but are not limited to, comparable apartment communities, current supply and demand, location, amenities, building quality and the overall value added by the renovations. Rent adjustments are subject to approval by DHCA.

What is the current rent stabilization cap?

Under Montgomery County rent stabilization law, annual rent increases are generally capped at the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, or inflation rate) plus 3%, with a maximum limit of 6% per year, whichever is lower. This means landlords of rent stabilized buildings, including HOC, cannot adjust rent above that limit unless the County approves an exemption, such as for substantial renovation or major capital improvements. This cap does not apply to properties that are exempt from rent stabilization law.

What alternatives are available if I don’t qualify for affordable rent?

All residents of Montgomery County are welcome to apply for affordable housing assistance, subject to certain eligibility requirements. For residents who do not qualify for affordable rate rents, HOC has several other communities in Montgomery County, including in the Bethesda market, that may be an alternative.

Please contact your General Manager for more information.

Leonard Stewart
General Manager
The Metropolitan
301.652.1555
metropolitan@bozzuto.com