SEC. 151.14. FILING OF APPLICATION FOR RENT ADJUSTMENTS

A. Filing Date. (Amended by Ord. No. 165,251, Eff. 11/20/89.) An application for rent adjustment, request for hearing, appeal or re-rental certificate shall be considered as filed on the date it has been completed in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations, and received together with any required filing fee by the Department. If at any time during the processing of an application it is determined that an application has been improperly prepared, or requires additional information not submitted in accordance with the rules and regulations, the time limits specified within this chapter shall be suspended and not continue to run until the application has been rectified or the omitted information furnished upon written notification to the applicant.

B. Place of Filing. Whenever the provisions of this chapter provide that applications or requests for hearing or appeals be filed in the office of the Department, such applications or requests for hearing or appeals may be filed in any of the branch offices of the Department.

C. An application fee required under this section may be waived by the Department for any individual who files a declaration stating that the individual annually earns no more than 50% of the median income for the Los Angeles area. The declaration shall state the above information is true and correct. The median is to be determined by the standards utilized by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles acting pursuant to HUD relations. (Amended by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.)

D. If a hearing officer determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that an applicant has willfully or knowingly with the intent to deceive, made or caused to be made a false statement or representation, or knowingly failed to disclose a material fact, in connection with any application under consideration by the hearing officer, then the hearing officer may deny the application. Any determination by the hearing officer based on this subsection shall be appealable to the Rent Adjustment Commission. (Added by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.)

E. For purposes of this chapter, if an application, request for appeal or request for hearing is mailed to the Department, it is deemed to be received as established by the date of the postmark affixed on an envelope properly addressed to the Department. (Added by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.)