TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

Landlord Didn't Reregulate Deregulated J-51 Apartment Post-Roberts

January 25, 2022    

Tenant complained of improper apartment deregulation and rent overcharge. Tenant moved into the apartment in 2012 at an initial rent of $2,100 per month. The building was subject to a J-51 tax benefit from July 1,...

Rent Overcharge with Triple Damages Based on Unproven IAIs Totaled Over $300,000

November 22, 2021    

Tenant, who moved into an apartment at a monthly rent of $4,000 in March 2014, complained of rent overcharge in 2015. Landlord claimed that when the prior tenant moved out in December 2013, landlord made individual...

Landlord Knew About Rent Reduction Order and Willfully Overcharged Tenant

October 27, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2017. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $3,700, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that there was no...

Landlord's Application of Overcharge Refund to Security Deposit Tenant Owed Didn't Void Triple Damages

September 27, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2018. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund a total of $386, including triple damages. In 2017, landlord had increased tenant's monthly...

Landlord Didn't Make Good Faith Overcharge Refund

September 27, 2021    

Tenant complained in 2017 of rent overcharge and improper deregulation of his apartment. In response, landlord acknowledged that tenant was rent stabilized, reduced tenant's rent, and issued an overcharge refund...

Triple Damages Applied to Rent Overcharge Determination

September 24, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $12,679, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord argued that there was no willful...

Triple Damages Applied to Overcharge Based on Prior Rent Reduction Order

July 27, 2021    

The DHCR's Tenant Protection Unit (TPU) audited landlord for noncompliance with two DHCR rent reduction orders that froze tenant's rent. Based on landlord's failure to resolve the matter with TPU, TPU...

Triple Damages Correctly Applied to Rent Overcharge

June 22, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and denied landlord's PAR. Landlord then filed an Article 78 court appeal of the DHCR's decision. The court ruled against...

DHCR Overcharge Proceeding Initiated by TPU Referral Was Proper

May 5, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2016. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund overcharges that included triple damages. The DHCR denied landlord's petition for...

Landlord Continued Collecting Overcharge After Making Partial Refund

April 26, 2021    

Tenant in a rent-stabilized building subject to J-51 tax benefits complained to the DHCR in October 2012 of rent overcharge. Landlord claimed that it acknowledged the overcharge in accordance with the 2009 ...

Willful Rent Overcharge of $175K Based on 2002 Rent Reduction Order

April 26, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2017. Tenant had moved into the apartment in 2010. The DRA ruled for tenant. The base rent date was Apr. 27, 2013. The DRA had issued a separate...

Landlord Couldn't Collect 2.2% Rent Increase from Tenant Without 421-a Lease Rider

March 24, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2017. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $4,950, including triple damages for willful overcharge.