TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

Rent Overcharge Resulting from 1995 Rent Reduction Order Included Triple Damages

December 19, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in late 2018. Specifically, tenant claimed that landlord charged improper MCI rent increases between Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2018. Landlord had bought the...

Continued Collection of Rent Increase During Rent Freeze Required Triple Damages

November 21, 2023    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in May 2019 of rent overcharge. She claimed that an outstanding rent reduction order had been issued and made effective on Sept. 1, 2025, without a proper reduction in her rent. The DRA...

Rent Overcharge with Triple Damages Found Due to Pre-Base Date Rent Reduction Orders

November 21, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in February 2019. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $32,726, including interest and triple damages. The overcharge was based on two...

Triple Damages Applied to Overcharge Based on Prior Rent Reduction Orders

October 25, 2023    

Nassau County tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $5,718, which included triple damages plus interest along with subtraction of a $3,543 refund...

Willful Rent Overcharge of Over $109,000 Resulted from Prior Rent Reduction Order

August 28, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR in December 2018 of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $109,283, including triple damages and interest. The DRA found that the base...

Landlord Must Refund $118,730 Based on 1989 Rent Reduction Order

July 26, 2023    

Tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2018. The DRA ruled for tenant. Although there was a four-year lookback period, an outstanding 1989 rent reduction order required the DRA to freeze tenant's $1,...

Tenant Proves Disputed Amount of Lease Rent with Rent Receipts

June 27, 2023    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in 2017 of rent overcharge, claiming that rent charged and collected from Oct. 31, 2014, through June 31, 2017, included illegal fees and surcharges. Tenant also claimed that landlord...

Triple Damages Applied to Rent Overcharge Even Though Tenants Still Owed Back Rent

May 23, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenants complained of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenants, finding a total overcharge of $826, including triple damages. Since tenants owed landlord over $20,000 in unpaid rent, the DRA did not...

No IAI Increase for Electrical Work Done Outside Tenant's Apartment

April 23, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled against tenant and found no overcharge. Tenant appealed and won. The DRA had noted that landlord claimed that it did individual...

Tenant's Vacancy Lease Didn't Contain Notice of Preferential Rent

April 23, 2023    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in 2017 of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $40,051, including triple damages and interest, and after deducting $20,116 in unpaid rent that...

Default Formula Applied to Overcharge Calculation Where No Base Date Lease Submitted

March 21, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2018. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $21,443, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. The DRA correctly determined that...

Landlord's Unlawful On-Time Rent Provision Resulted in Willful Rent Overcharge

March 21, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR in 2016 of rent overcharge based on a higher rent charged when tenant paid her monthly rent late. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $3,915,...