DHCR to Decide Tenant's Claim

LVT Number: 12434

(Decision submitted by Matthew L. Gordon of the Yonkers law firm of Novick, Edelstein, Lubell, Reisman, Wasserman & Leventhal, P.C., attorneys for the landlord.) Tenant sued landlord in court for a rent overcharge. Tenant was the first rent-stabilized tenant of the apartment. He claimed that landlord never sent or filed an initial registration (RR-1) form with the DHCR so his rent should be frozen at the amount of the last rent-controlled tenant's rent. Landlord sent and filed the RR-1 form in June 1997 after tenant started the court case. The court ruled against tenant.

(Decision submitted by Matthew L. Gordon of the Yonkers law firm of Novick, Edelstein, Lubell, Reisman, Wasserman & Leventhal, P.C., attorneys for the landlord.) Tenant sued landlord in court for a rent overcharge. Tenant was the first rent-stabilized tenant of the apartment. He claimed that landlord never sent or filed an initial registration (RR-1) form with the DHCR so his rent should be frozen at the amount of the last rent-controlled tenant's rent. Landlord sent and filed the RR-1 form in June 1997 after tenant started the court case. The court ruled against tenant. Tenant's complaint about the first stabilized rent constituted a fair market rent appeal. While either the DHCR or the court can decide a rent overcharge complaint, only the DHCR can rule on a fair market rent appeal. Tenant must file a complaint with the DHCR to get a ruling on this issue.

Fletcher v. Vasarhelyi: Index No. 16298/97 (3/26/98) (Civ. Ct. NY; Kornreich, J) [4-page document]

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