Rent Overcharge Resulted from Landlord's Reliance on Deemed Leases

LVT Number: #31143

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant, finding that the base date rent was $1,392 and that landlord was responsible for overcharges plus interest totalling $15,610. Landlord hadn't produced a base date lease. The DRA found that the overcharge wasn't willful because it resulted entirely from landlord's failure to execute the base date lease and subsequent renewal leases.