How may I evict a tenant who is suspected of selling drugs?
You must use normal landlord and tenant eviction procedures. Let the clerk know that it is a "drug haven" case. This type of case is heard on an expedited basis.
Landlord & Tenant
How may I make a late protective order payment (payment made to the court registry) to the court?
Contact the landlord for consent to make a late payment. If the landlord will not agree, file a motion in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office to make a late protective order payment. The cost is $10
How much time do I have to execute or follow through on the money judgment?
If the judgment is unrecorded (that is, not recorded with the DC Recorder of Deeds) you have three years, and if the judgment is recorded, you have twelve years. Ask the clerk in the DC Recorder of Deeds Office about recording the money judgment. The number for the DC Recorder of Deeds (located within the DC Office of Tax and Revenue) is (202) 727-5374. The Recorder's Office is located at 1101 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20024
I cannot afford to pay the court costs and filing fees. Is there a way to waive the fees?
You can file an Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Costs in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office. You will be required to provide information about your income and expenses, and a judge will review the application to see if you qualify.
How may I get monies released from the court registry?
You must file a Disbursement Order Request form with the clerk's office at 5000 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 5000, Washington DC or electronically on eFILEDC. There is no filing fee for this form.
I have a judgment or a default against my tenant. How do I to evict the tenant?
You must use court process to evict the tenant. To do this, you must wait at least forty-eight hours after entry of a judgment or a default before you return to the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office to file a writ of restitution, which orders the eviction of the tenant. If you have a "default," you must turn the "default" into a "judgment" by filing a Servicemembers affidavit with the court certifying that the tenant is not on active duty with the military or other government service.
If I am a tenant, how can I get the landlord to make repairs to my home?
If a landlord fails to make repairs after a tenant notifies the landlord about the need for repairs, the tenant has several options. A tenant may sue their landlord for DC Housing Code violations by filing a complaint and summons with the Civil Actions Branch Clerk's Office, Moultrie Courthouse, Room 5000.
How can I pay my rent until repairs are made?
If your landlord has sued you in Landlord and Tenant Court, you can ask the court to allow you to pay your rent into the registry of the court until the case is over. Either party may request a protective order. If the protective order is not entered by consent of both parties, the court will determine the amount of money that should be paid each month, which usually is the amount of the monthly rent. A defendant may request that the court reduce the amount of the protective order based on housing code violations.
Is there anything I can do to stop my landlord from evicting me after a judgment is entered?
You can ask the court to stop the eviction by filing an Application to Stay Execution of the Writ of Restitution in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office. If the reason the landlord sued you is because you owe rent, you can avoid eviction by paying the landlord all of the rent and court costs that you owe as of the day the you make the payment. (This includes the rent that has come due since the time the landlord filed the lawsuit.) If you bring your account current with the landlord, the landlord cannot evict you unless he or she brings a new lawsuit.
The first time I heard anything about a lawsuit against me was when I received a writ of restitution (eviction notice) in the mail. What can I do?
If you do not believe that you should be evicted, you can come to court immediately and file an Application to Stay Execution of the Writ of Restitution in the Landlord and Tenant Clerk's Office. You may also want to file a motion to ask the court to vacate the judgment so that you can present defenses you have to the case. There is no cost for the application.