By Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 27, 2006 2:46 PM

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams today signed into law the first major revision of the city's rent control law in more than 20 years.

The new law, a hard-fought compromise between landlords and tenants, would abolish the city's antiquated system of rent ceilings and replace it with legal restrictions that limit future rent increases to 2 percent of current rent plus inflation, or no more than 10 percent a year.

The measure contains new protections for the elderly and disabled, limiting their rent increases to inflation only, or no more than 5 percent a year. And it would limit one-time rent increases on vacant units to 30 percent.

"We have arrived at a rent control reform package that is easy to administer and understand, that protects tenants from abuse . . . [and] will have a profound impact on thousands of District residents," Williams (D) said before signing the legislation in his ceremonial office at the John A. Wilson Building.