D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3218
Fraudulent removal, conveyance, or concealment of property to defeat lien subjects guilty party to forfeiture of double value of such property.
Operative Text
If any tenant or lessee shall fraudulently remove and convey away his or her goods or chattels, or if any person or persons shall wilfully and knowingly aid or assist any such tenant or lessee in such fraudulent conveying away or carrying off of any part of his or her goods or chattels, or in concealing the same; all and every person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay to the landlord or landlords, lessor or lessors, from whose estate such goods and chattels were fraudulently carried off as aforesaid, double the value of the goods by him, her or them respectively carried off or concealed as aforesaid; to be recovered by action of debt in any court of record.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3218, a tenant who fraudulently removes or hides personal property to avoid a landlord's lien — or anyone who knowingly helps with such removal or concealment — becomes liable for twice the value of the property involved. The landlord may pursue this double-value forfeiture through a debt action in a court of record. The provision applies both to the tenant who acts directly and to any third party who assists in the scheme.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3218 gives landlords a legal remedy when a tenant secretly moves or hides goods to defeat a lien on those goods. A compliant and proactive landlord generally documents the personal property on the premises and monitors for suspicious removals, particularly when rent is in arrears. When fraudulent removal or concealment is suspected, the provision allows recovery of double the value of the affected goods through a court of record action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3201 et seq. § 42-3218 establishes that tenants who fraudulently remove or conceal property subject to a landlord's lien — or who enlist others to do so — face a penalty of double the property's value. Tenants should be aware that this provision extends liability to anyone who knowingly assists in such removal or concealment, not just the tenant directly. Those with questions about what property may be subject to a lien or what constitutes fraudulent removal may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with D.C. landlord-tenant law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation