STATE OF NEW YORK
                     DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL
                           OFFICE OF RENT ADMINISTRATION
                                    GERTZ PLAZA
                              92-31 UNION HALL STREET
                              JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11433

     ------------------------------------X 
     IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE :  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
     APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO.: AI 410032-RT
                                         :  
                                            DRO DOCKET NO.: L 3114022-R
       JONATHAN LAPIN
                           PETITIONER    : 
     ------------------------------------X                             


                   ORDER AND OPINION TERMINATING PROCEEDING AND
                       MODIFYING ORDER OF RENT ADMINISTRATOR


     On September 9, 1986 the abovenamed petitioner tenant filed a Petition for 
     Administrative Review against an order issued on August  5,  1986  by  the
     Rent Administrator concerning  the  housing  accommodations  known  as  20
     Clinton Street, Apartment 5B, Manhattan.

     The Commissioner notes that the then current owner also filed  a  petition
     which was dismissed as untimely and the owner  instituted  an  Article  78
     proceeding which was not perfected (AI 410041-RO); SJR 1838).

     The instant  order  of  the  Rent  Administrator  was  the  result  of  an
     overcharge complaint filed by the tenant on March 21, 1984 and established 
     stabilized rents and directed refunds of overcharges by the  then  current
     and prior owners.

     In his petition, the tenant does not challenge the  Administrator's  order
     but attaches a copy of a letter to the then present  and  2  prior  owners
     demanding payment in accordance with the order including treble damages.

     In response one of the owners states that the  Administrator's  order  did
     not impose  treble  damages  but  only  9%  interest  on  the  overcharges
     collected after April 1, 1984.

     As abovenoted the petition does not in itself raise a  adjudicable  issue.
     However,  to  avoid  unnecessary  confusion,  the  Commissioner  deems  it
     appropriate to point out that the  Administrator's  order  did,  in  fact,
     impose treble damages for an 11 month period after April 1,  1984.   Since
     treble damages were imposed,  interest  is  not  also  warranted  and  the
     language in the Administrator's order relating thereto is hereby deleted.

     If the owners have not already refunded or credited the  overcharges,  the
     tenant may, upon the expiration of the period  in  which  the  owners  may
     institute an Article 78 proceeding, file and enforce  the  Administrator's
     order along with this order and opinion as a judgment or offset  not  more
     than 20% per month of the overcharge occurring on and after April 1,  1984
     against any rent due the current owner, if he has not already done so.








          DOCKET NUMBER: AI 410032-RT
     THEREFORE, pursuant to Rent Stabilization Law and Code, it is

     ORDERED, that this proceeding be, and the same hereby is,  terminated  and
     that the Rent Administrator's order be, and the same hereby  is,  modified
     as above set forth and, as so modified, affirmed.

     ISSUED:



                                                                   
                                     ELLIOT SANDER
                                     Deputy Commissioner