14 DCMR § 14-3928
RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT
Operative Text
3928.1 On motion and upon such terms as are just, the Rent Administrator may relieve a party from a final order issued by the Rent Administrator for the following reasons: (a) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect; (b) Newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for reconsideration under § 3924; (c) Fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party; or (d) The decision has been satisfied, released, or discharged, or a prior decision upon which it is based has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no longer equitable that the decision have prospective application. 3928.2 A motion filed pursuant to § 3928.1 shall be filed within a reasonable time after the date the grounds for relief first exist or are discovered; provided, that motions filed pursuant to § 3928.1(a), (b), or (c) shall not be filed more than one (1) year after the order was issued. 3928.3 The filing of a motion under this section does not stay the effectiveness of a final order or extend the time to file an appeal.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3928, the Rent Administrator has authority to set aside a final order upon a party's motion when certain grounds exist, such as mistake, newly discovered evidence, fraud by the opposing party, or a change in circumstances that makes continued enforcement inequitable. Motions based on mistake, new evidence, or fraud must be filed within one year of the order's issuance, while other grounds must be raised within a reasonable time after they arise or are discovered. Importantly, filing such a motion does not pause the order's effect or extend any deadline for filing an appeal.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to a Rent Administrator order should be aware that § 14-3928 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. provides a limited procedural avenue to seek relief from a final order, but the order remains fully in effect while any such motion is pending. Compliant operators generally continue to fulfill the obligations imposed by the order during this period and track deadlines carefully, since motions grounded in mistake, newly discovered evidence, or fraud must be submitted within one year of the order's issuance. Operators also typically ensure that any appeal deadlines are monitored separately, as a motion under this section does not extend the time to appeal.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who are parties to a Rent Administrator proceeding may find that § 14-3928 of D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. offers a path to challenge a final order that was affected by mistake, fraud, newly discovered evidence, or changed circumstances. A motion must generally be filed within a reasonable time, and no later than one year after the order if the grounds involve mistake, new evidence, or misconduct by the other party. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid providers familiar with D.C. housing regulations can help individuals understand whether the grounds and timing requirements under this provision may apply to their situation.
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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