14 DCMR § 14-3813
WITHDRAWAL OF APPEARANCE
Operative Text
3813.1 If an attorney or other person representing a party wishes to withdraw from a case pending before the Commission, a written motion to withdraw shall be filed in accordance with § 3814. 3813.2 An attorney or other representative who has not been granted leave to withdraw shall remain the representative of record. 3813.3 If an attorney or other representative who has not been granted leave to withdraw fails to attend a Commission hearing or respond to a notice or pleading, the attorney may be subjected to the provisions of §§ 3812.13, 3812.14, or 3812.15. 3813.4 A motion to withdraw an appearance shall contain a statement of the following: (a) Whether the party will be unrepresented or will have substitute representation, and whether the absence of representation will prejudice the rights of the party. (b) Whether the party consents in writing to the motion, or opposes the motion in writing or otherwise; (c) If the party has not obtained substitute representation, certification that the attorney or representative filing the motion has: (1) Notified the party of the intent to withdraw and of the party’s opportunity to oppose the motion, and advising the party to obtain other counsel or representation prior to filing the motion; and (2) Provided the party with the list of legal resources published by the Rental Accommodations Division; and (d) A current name, address, and phone number or email address for either the unrepresented party or for the party’s substitute representation, if any has been obtained. 3813.5 The Commission shall decide a motion to withdraw an appearance promptly and may deny the motion if it does not comply with the requirements of this section or if withdrawal would unduly delay the case, be unduly prejudicial to any party, or otherwise not be in the interests of justice. 3813.6 If an attorney or other representative’s motion for leave to withdraw does not include the contact information required by § 3813.4(d), the motion may be granted if it contains a certification that the party has ceased communication and that the representative has been unable to obtain the information after a good faith effort to do so.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3813, when an attorney or other representative in a case before the Rental Housing Commission wants to exit the case, they must file a formal written motion that meets specific requirements—including disclosing whether the party will be left without representation, whether the party consents, and providing current contact information for the party. The Commission reviews these motions promptly and can deny them if the requirements aren't met, if withdrawal would cause undue delay, or if it would prejudice any party. A representative who has not been granted leave to withdraw remains officially on record and can face sanctions for failing to participate in hearings or respond to notices.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As a property owner or manager involved in a Commission proceeding, understanding § 14-3813 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. helps clarify what happens when the opposing party's representative seeks to exit the case. Compliant operators and their legal representatives ensure that any motion to withdraw is properly filed with all required disclosures, including confirmation of substitute representation or lack thereof, so proceedings are not unnecessarily delayed. If your own representative needs to withdraw, operators generally verify that the motion includes current contact information and that the party has been notified of available legal resources published by the Rental Accommodations Division.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you are a tenant in a case before the Rental Housing Commission, § 14-3813 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. governs what happens when your representative—or the other side's representative—seeks to leave the case. You have the right to consent to or oppose a withdrawal motion in writing, and the Commission must consider whether your rights would be prejudiced if you are left without representation. If you find yourself without a representative, the Rental Accommodations Division publishes a list of legal resources, and tenant-rights organizations in the District can help you understand your options for obtaining assistance.
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.
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