14 DCMR § 14-3904
PARTIES
Operative Text
3904.1 Proceedings on a petition or application pending before the Rent Administrator shall individually identify each petitioner and each respondent named by the petitioner or each person electing to contest the petition or application, as applicable. 3904.2 If a petition or application is filed by or contested by a tenant association that meets the requirements of § 216a of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.16a), the association shall be a party and be identified in place of its members or the tenants represented by the association. 3904.3 The Rent Administrator may require a tenant association filing or contesting a petition to submit written authorization of the members or other tenants represented by the association to represent them in proceedings on the petition. 3904.4 Representation by a tenant association shall be conducted in accordance with § 3918.1(f).
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3904, rent-related proceedings before the District of Columbia Rent Administrator must individually identify every petitioner and respondent involved. When a qualifying tenant association participates—either by filing or contesting a petition—it stands as a named party in place of the individual members or tenants it represents. The Rent Administrator has authority to require that association to produce written authorization confirming it has the backing of those it claims to represent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3904 governs how parties are identified in Rent Administrator proceedings, and landlords named as respondents should expect to be individually listed in any petition or application. Compliant operators generally keep accurate records of their properties and ownership structures so that identification in proceedings is straightforward and unambiguous. When a tenant association is the opposing party, operators should be aware that the association itself—not individual tenants—is the recognized party, and may be asked to demonstrate written authorization from those it represents.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3904 establishes that tenants and tenant associations have defined standing in proceedings before the District of Columbia Rent Administrator. A tenant association that meets the requirements of D.C. Official Code § 42-3502.16a may file or contest a petition as a party in its own right, representing its members collectively rather than requiring each tenant to appear individually. Tenants interested in collective representation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how association membership and written authorization requirements under § 14-3904 could affect participation in a Rent Administrator proceeding.
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 In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation