14 DCMR § 14-3809
PARTIES
Operative Text
3809.1 A case before the Commission shall be captioned as each appellant versus each appellee, and shall designate the intervenor, if any. If the Commission has initiated the review or if a petition has been adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Hearings without an opposing party, the case shall be captioned as regarding the petition of the party that initiated the case (“In re Petition of [Name]”). 3809.2 In the event of the death, dissolution, reorganization, or change of ownership or interest of a party, the Commission may, upon its own motion when such an event is suggested on the record, or upon the motion of a party, substitute or add a person, including a trust or representative of the party’s estate, as a party to the appeal. 3809.3 If it appears to the Commission that the identity of the parties has been incorrectly determined by the Rent Administrator or the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Commission may substitute or add the correct parties on its own motion. 3809.4 No substitution or addition of parties shall occur unless all current and proposed parties are served with the motion in accordance with § 3803 and given an opportunity to file written arguments in support of or in opposition to a motion for substitution of parties. The Commission may require a current or proposed party to submit evidence establishing the relationship or interest of the party to be substituted. 3809.5 If a party appeals an order of the Rent Administrator that was issued without an opposing party, the case shall be captioned as being in the matter of the appellant. The Rent Administrator shall be permitted to intervene as of right in such a case.
Under D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3809, this provision governs how parties are identified and named in appeals before the District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission. Cases are captioned to reflect the appellant and appellee, or, when no opposing party exists, as a petition 'in the matter of' the initiating party. The Commission has authority to substitute or add parties when ownership changes, a party dies, or the wrong parties were originally identified, provided all affected parties receive proper notice and a chance to respond.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in Rental Housing Commission proceedings should be aware that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3809 governs how parties are formally designated in those cases. When a landlord's ownership structure changes—through sale, reorganization, or other transfer—the Commission may substitute or add the appropriate party to an ongoing appeal. Compliant operators generally ensure that any change in ownership or interest is promptly disclosed on the record so that case captions and party designations remain accurate throughout the proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants participating in Rental Housing Commission appeals should understand that D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14 et seq. § 14-3809 sets out rules for who is formally recognized as a party in those proceedings. If a landlord's ownership changes during an appeal, or if the wrong party was originally named, the Commission can correct the record by substituting or adding parties—and all parties must be notified and given a chance to respond before any such change takes effect. Tenants who believe the wrong party has been named, or who face a change in landlord ownership mid-proceeding, may raise this issue before the Commission or consult a tenant-rights organization familiar with D.C. housing regulations.
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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