{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-1372","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 47-1372","heading":"Notice to certain persons.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nThe plaintiff shall send written notice of the action to:\n(A)\nNotwithstanding the provisions of § 47-1371(b)(4), all persons having a recorded interest, recorded claim, or recorded lien, including a recorded judgment, who have not been made a defendant in the action and, if the real property is the common areas owned by or legally dedicated to a homeowners association, to the homeowners association governing the real property, at the last reasonably ascertainable address; and\n(B)\nEach commercial tenant of the real property whose identity is known to the plaintiff at the commercial tenant’s last reasonably ascertainable address.\n(C)\n(i)\nA purchaser of the real property, or an assignee of a certificate of sale, if the purchaser has recorded the certificate of sale and any assignee has recorded the assignment, as prescribed by § 47-1350, within 4 months after the date of the tax sale to the plaintiff; provided, that the purchaser or assignee shall file an attachment with the certificate of sale or assignment indicating his mailing address; provided further, that the assignee shall file the certificate of sale if the certificate was not filed by the purchaser.\n(ii)\nForeclosure of the right of redemption shall not extinguish the amount to which the purchaser or assignee is entitled under this chapter.\n(2)\nThis section shall not apply to residential tenants.\n\n(b)\nThe notice under subsection (a) of this section shall be:\n(1)\nSent by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service; and\n(2)\nAccompanied by a copy of the summons and a copy of the complaint.\n\n(c)\nThe plaintiff shall file in the action:\n(1)\nThe return receipt from the notice; or\n(2)\nIf the return receipt has not been returned, the proof of mailing and an affidavit stating that the notice provisions of subsection (b) of this section have been complied with, or an affidavit stating that the address of the holder of the subordinate interest is not reasonably ascertainable.\n\n(d)\n(1)\nNotwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the plaintiff shall send written notice of the action to any commercial tenant of the real property whose occupancy of the real property is reasonably ascertainable by the plaintiff, whether or not the commercial tenant’s identity is known:\n(A)\nBy first-class mail, postage prepaid, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, addressed to the commercial tenant by name if the identity of the commercial tenant is known to the plaintiff, or addressed to “occupant” if the identity of the commercial tenant is not known;\n(B)\nTo each separately leased area of the real property that the plaintiff can reasonably ascertain is occupied;\n(C)\nIn an envelope prominently marked on the outside with the phrase “Notice of Action to Foreclose”; and\n(D)\nAccompanied by a copy of the complaint.\n(2)\n“If the unpaid taxes, together with costs and expenses, are not paid, the court may enter a judgment foreclosing the right of redemption that would terminate your lease and right to occupy the real property. You have the right to pay the unpaid taxes, together with costs and expenses, and avoid lease termination and eviction. A judgment foreclosing the right of redemption could be entered within the next 90 days and at that time you could be evicted or required to vacate the real property.”\n\n(e)\nIf the filing under subsection (c) of this section is made before the entry of final judgment, the failure of a person under subsection (a)(1) of this section to receive the notice shall not invalidate the sale.\n\n(f)\nIn addition to the notice required by subsection (a) of this section, the plaintiff shall provide notice of the action by posting a copy of the summons on a place on the premises of the real property where it may be conveniently read.\n\n(g)\n(1)\nSubject to § 47-1371(b)(1) and (4), after entry of a judgment foreclosing the right of redemption and at least 30 days before taking possession of the real property, the plaintiff shall give any commercial tenant of the real property written notice of the plaintiff’s intention to obtain possession of the real property and that the commercial tenant shall vacate the real property within 30 days after the notice.\n(2)\nDuring the 30-day period immediately following entry of the judgment foreclosing the right of redemption, the plaintiff may apply for, process, and obtain, but not execute upon, a writ of possession of the real property.\n(3)\nThe notice under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be sent:\n(A)\nBy first-class mail, postage prepaid, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, addressed to the commercial tenant by name if the identity of the commercial tenant is known to the plaintiff, or addressed to “occupant” if the identity of the commercial tenant is not known;\n(B)\nTo each separately leased portion of the real property that the plaintiff can reasonably ascertain is occupied; and\n(C)\nIn an envelope prominently marked on the outside with the phrase “Notice of taking possession of real property.”","path":["Title 47. Taxation, Licensing, Permits, Assessments, and Fees. [Enacted title]","Chapter 13A. Revised Real Property Tax Sales.","Subchapter IV. Foreclosure."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-1372","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"0a0e97a90bcd69ba2fb39dc4d6b30b28b69e5505b78f4d06a0d169c7f0429666","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-1371","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-47-1373"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}