TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

New Owner Responsible for Rent Reduction Order Resulting in Overcharge Finding

August 25, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2016. The DRA ruled for tenant and directed refund of a total overcharge of $19,265, including triple damages. The overcharge was based on a prior...

Landlord Permitted Illegal Apartment Sublet to Continue

July 25, 2025    

Thirteen subtenants filed separate rent overcharge complaints with the DHCR. They claimed that they had rented rooms in an apartment where the tenants were Esko Management Corp. and Mei Huo. The apartment had four...

Subtenant of Prior Landlord Becomes Rent-Stabilized Tenant Due to Illusory Prime Tenancy

July 25, 2025    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in March 2019 of rent overcharge. Landlord claimed that the tenant was in fact a subtenant and that it wasn't responsible for any overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered...

Rent Overcharge Resulted from Improperly Executed Renewal Leases

July 24, 2025    

Tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2016. The DRA ruled for tenant, found he was rent stabilized, and directed landlord to refund a total overcharge of $78,245, including triple damages.

Court Mistakenly Awarded Tenant Quadruple Damages for Rent Overcharge

June 25, 2025    

Tenant sued landlord, claiming rent overcharge and improper apartment deregulation. The court ruled for tenant, setting the legal regulated rent at $533.82 per month, and awarding rent overcharges plus triple damages...

Landlord Didn't Explain How Apartment Was Deregulated

June 24, 2025    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in 2018, claiming rent overcharge based on missing apartment registrations. In response, landlord claimed that the apartment had always been properly registered but also argued that the...

Triple Damages Required for Post-HSTPA Overcharge Finding

June 23, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund over $25,000, including triple damages and interest minus a small $680 refund. Landlord...

Landlord Overcharged Tenant by Charging Illegal Broker's Fee for Apartment

June 19, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge based on a broker's fee of $3,024 charged by landlord's property manager for an apartment that rented for $1,680 per month. The DRA ruled for...

Omission of Legal Rent Amount in Renewal Lease Didn't Prevent Willful Overcharge Finding

June 19, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund a total of $137.94, including triple damages. Landlord had previously listed both a legal...

Triple Damages Imposed for Landlord's Improper Collection of Legal Fees

May 21, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge because landlord charged to tenant, and tenant paid, legal fees in the amount of $354. The DRA ruled for tenant and found that tenant was entitled to a...

Tenant Was Overcharged After Sub Rehab Exemption Application Was Denied

May 20, 2025    

Tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. Landlord claimed that the building was exempt from rent stabilization based on substantial rehabilitation and that therefore there could be no overcharge. After...

Triple Damages Applied to Post-HSTPA Overcharge Despite Refund Made While Complaint Pending

March 28, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR about rent overcharge in 2020. She claimed that her rent had been frozen pursuant to a previously issued DHCR rent reduction order. The DRA ruled for tenant, finding...