D.C. Code tit. 42 § 42-3502.16a
Tenant representation by tenant organization.
Operative Text
(a) A tenant organization shall have standing to assert a claim in its name on behalf of one or more of its members in any petition filed pursuant to this chapter, or under Chapters 39 or 40 of Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, whether initiated by or against a housing provider; provided, that: (1) One or more members of the tenant organization have standing to assert a claim in their own right; (2) One or more members of the tenant organization have provided the tenant organization with written authorization for it to represent that member in the proceeding governing the petition; and (3) Neither the claim asserted nor the relief requested requires the participation of the member. (b) Where the provisions of subsection (a) of this section have been satisfied, the tenant organization shall be granted party status and have its name placed in the caption of the proceeding. (c) No further inquiry into the membership of the association shall be permitted.
D.C. Code § 42-3502.16a establishes that a recognized tenant organization may bring or defend a rent-related petition on behalf of one or more of its members, without those members needing to appear as named parties themselves. For this standing to apply, at least one member must have a valid individual claim, must have given written authorization for the organization to act on their behalf, and the relief sought must not require the member's direct participation. Once those conditions are met, the organization is formally recognized as a party in the proceeding and no further scrutiny of its membership composition is allowed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under D.C. Code § 42-3502.16a, housing providers should be aware that a tenant organization—not just individual tenants—may appear as a named party in rent-related petitions filed under the Rental Housing Act or related D.C. Municipal Regulations. Compliant operators generally review any petition caption carefully to identify whether a tenant organization is asserting claims on behalf of members, and they ensure their responses address the organization's standing requirements. Understanding that the statute bars further inquiry into the organization's membership once standing is established helps operators focus their responses on the substantive merits of the petition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Code § 42-3502.16a gives tenant organizations the legal standing to file or respond to rent-related petitions on behalf of their members before the D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings or relevant rent board proceedings. A tenant who wants their organization to represent them generally provides written authorization to the organization, which then may be listed as a formal party in the proceeding's caption. Tenants who believe collective representation may be relevant to their situation can reach out to their building's tenant organization or a local tenant-rights organization to learn more about how this provision might apply.
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 14, 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