Evening star., 1942-01-10
Rent Complaint
Blanks Mailed
To Applicants
CogsweII Outlines
Procedure for Tenants
And Landlords

Rent Administrator Robert F.
Cogsweu mailed out the first bundle
of complaint forms under the Dis
trict rent control law today to hun
dreds of persons who have called
for them and warned applicants the
law provides stiff penalties for false
statements. He outlined procedure
for tenants and landlords in filing
complaints.
Mr.. Cogswell had prepared ten
tative form before the rent act be-
came effective January 2, but was
forced to outline a new one after
personally interviewing more than
400 persons who appeared at his
Office and answering hundreds OF
telephone queries He said the new
form certainly will cover 95 per
cent of the cases"
The forms must be filed in du-
plicate and do not require notarlza-
ton. If a complaint is not covered
by the questions on the form, space
is provided for the complaint to be
written in,
THE petitions have been drawn"
Mr.. Cogswell explained, Ito reflect
the essential facts needed to
proper determination of the COM
plant. They are drawn as tree
from technical terms as possible,
consistent with provision OF the act.
realizing that many who Will seek
the aid of this Office are not expert
enced in legal or administrative
procedure.
Privilege of Answer.
in many respects the act is SELL
executing. 1t does, however, provide
for adjustments under certain cir
cumstances. This makes 1t neces-
sary for a petition to be filed with
the privilege of answer and the pro-
duction of facts for and against the
complaint
Mr.. Cogswell said that in draft
ing the forms attention has been
given to the practice and procedure
in the Small Claims Branch OF
Municipal Court, where printed
forms of complaint are available to
those seeking relief. Use of the
forms are not specifically required
under the act, but will lead to uni
formity in hearings before the ex-
aminerS.
Mr.. Cogswell outlined the follow
ing procedure for handling COM
plants:
The tenant or landlord desires
TO seek an increase or decrease IN
rent or services. He receivs form
at tn Rent Administrators office,
l740 Massachusetts avenue NV, or
writes a request for it. The form is
filled out in duplicate and promptly
returned to the Office. The dupli-
cate copy of the complaint is served
upon the respondent and he will
be given a designated period of time
within which to answer. AS soon
as the answer has been received and
the business of the Office will per-
init. the case will be heard before
an examiner.
Speed Hoped in Some Cases.
Mr.. Cogswell said he hoped that
IN those cases where the tenant is
completely satisfied with the amount
of rent he is now paying, though in
excess OF that paid on January l,
l941. and files an answer to that
effect. means will be found to dispose
quickly Of the case.
instructions accompanying the
printed forms provide that it must
be executed by the complainant un-
less he desires to be represented by
an attorney. In every case a petit
toner can appear in person and
be heard If he so desires. The re-
fusal of permitting any one to appear
other than the complainant or his
attorney will prevent unscrupulous
persons from soliciting landlords and
tenants upon the claim they may
obtain higher or lower rents, which,
ever the case may be, the admin
istrator pointed out.
This will also prevent real estate
Offices from filing blanket petitions
in behalf of all persons for whom
they collect rents.