TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

Tenant Entitled to Almost $74K for Rent Overcharge

November 25, 2022    

Tenant sued landlord for rent overcharge and fraudulently deregulating its entire building, including tenant's apartment. Landlord had deregulated tenant's apartment despite the fact that the building was...

Landlord Responsible for Tenant's Overcharge of Subtenant

November 22, 2022    

A subtenant filed a rent overcharge complaint against rent-stabilized tenant for rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for subtenant and ordered the tenant to refund $54,000. The DRA found that landlord wasn't...

DHCR Can Examine Pre-Base Date Rent History to Determine If Unit Was Properly Deregulated

August 22, 2022    

Tenant complained of rent overcharge and improper deregulation of her apartment. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to: (a) refund $43,575 including triple damages; (b) offer tenant a rent-stabilized...

Rent-Stabilized Tenant Who Overcharged Subtenant Must Pay Triple Damages

July 20, 2022    

The former subtenant of a rent-stabilized apartment sued tenant for rent overcharge. The tenant had charged subtenant $1,500 per month although tenant's rent was $1,086. The DRA ruled for subtenant and ordered...

Rent Administrator Miscalculated Overcharge Refund Due to Tenant

July 20, 2022    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge based on a 2018 DHCR rent reduction order that was made retroactive to Oct. 1, 2017. The rent subsequently was restored retroactively to May 1, 2018. The DRA ruled...

Total Rent Overcharge with Triple Damages Was $311,534

July 20, 2022    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in 2015 of rent overcharge and improper deregulation of her apartment. Tenant moved in on March 1, 2014, at a monthly $4,000 rent. Landlord claimed that the apartment had been vacancy-...

Collectible Rent Frozen Due to Failure to Register Apartment

July 19, 2022    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant, finding an improper increase in 2015. The DRA also froze the collectible rent due to landlord's failure to register the...

Outstanding Rent Reduction Order Resulted in $219K Overcharge

May 24, 2022    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2018. The DRA ruled for tenant and froze the $1,600 base date rent at $500 due to an outstanding rent reduction order. The DRA directed landlord to refund $219,...

Rent Frozen at Base Date Rent Based on Landlord's Failure to Register Apartment

March 29, 2022    

Tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2017. Landlord claimed that the building wasn't rent stabilized because it contained only five apartments. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $6,835,...

On-Time Rent Discount Doesn't Qualify as Preferential Rent

March 29, 2022    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2018. He claimed that his unit had been unlawfully deregulated while the building received J-51 tax benefits. His lease also contained an on-time rent discount...

Landlord Must Refund $198K for Overcharge Resulting from Rent Reduction Order

March 23, 2022    

The DHCR's Tenant Protection Unit (TPU) completed an audit of an apartment's rent and found that the legal registered rent wasn't fully substantiated. The TPU directed landlord to reset the legal rent,...

Rent Overcharge Over $66K Due to Outstanding 2000 Rent Reduction Order

January 25, 2022    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained in 2017 of rent overcharge based on an outstanding DHCR rent reduction order based on a reduction in services that had been issued in 2000 without any subsequent rent restoration...