24 C.F.R. § 14.335
§ 14.335 Departmental review. (24 CFR Part 14)
Operative Text
(a) Either the applicant or agency counsel may seek review of the initial decision on the fee application, or the Secretary (or his or her delegate, if any) may decide to review the decision on his or her own initiative, in accordance with the Department's review or appeals procedures applicable to the underlying proceeding. If neither the applicant nor agency counsel seeks review and the Secretary (or his or her delegate, if any) does not take review on his or her own initiative, the initial decision on the application shall become a final decision of the Department in the same manner as a decision in the underlying proceeding becomes final. Whether to review a decision is a matter within the discretion of the Secretary (or his or her delegate, if any). If review is taken, the Department will issue a final decision on the application or remand the application to the adjudicative officer for further proceedings. (b) Either party may seek reconsideration of the decision on the fee application in accordance with Rule 29, 24 CFR 20.10.
Under 24 CFR Part 14 § 14.335, once an adjudicative officer issues an initial decision on a fee application under the Equal Access to Justice Act, that decision is not automatically final. Either the applicant or agency counsel may seek departmental review, or the Secretary may initiate review independently — but doing so is entirely discretionary. If no party seeks review and the Secretary does not act, the initial decision becomes the Department's final decision by default. Either party may also separately seek reconsideration under Rule 29, 24 CFR 20.10.
Plain English — not legal advice.
For HUD-regulated entities acting as respondents or parties in departmental proceedings, 24 CFR Part 14 § 14.335 establishes that agency counsel — representing the Department's interests — retains the right to seek review of an initial fee award decision. Operators and their representatives generally track the procedural deadlines governing the underlying proceeding, since those same review and appeals procedures apply to fee application decisions. Reconsideration under Rule 29, 24 CFR 20.10 is also available as a distinct procedural avenue after an initial fee decision is issued.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For applicants who have prevailed in a HUD proceeding and received an initial fee award decision, 24 CFR Part 14 § 14.335 provides a right to seek departmental review if the outcome is unfavorable or incomplete. If neither party pursues review and the Secretary does not act independently, the initial decision becomes final — making it important to understand the review timelines tied to the underlying proceeding. Applicants may also pursue reconsideration under Rule 29, 24 CFR 20.10, and tenant-rights or legal aid organizations familiar with federal administrative proceedings can help explain what these procedural options generally involve.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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