AJ 110081 RT
                                  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



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          IN THE MATTER OF  THE  ADMINISTRATIVE      ADMINISTRATIVE  REVIEW
          APPEAL OF                               DOCKET NO.:  AJ 110081 RT

                     JOSEPH GABBAI,
                                                  DRO DOCKET NO.: Q 3119677 R

                                  PETITIONER
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            ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW


          On October 1, 1986, the  above-named  petitioner-tenant  filed  a
          Petition  for  Administrative  Review  of  an  order  issued   on
          September  2,  1986,  by  the  District  Rent  Administrator,  10
          Columbus  Circle,  New  York,  New   York,   concerning   housing
          accommodations known as Apartment 1-S,  65-65  Wetherole  Street,
          Rego Park, New York, wherein the Rent Administrator dismissed the 
          tenant's overcharge complaint.

          The Commissioner notes that this proceeding was  initiated  prior
          to April 1, 1984.  Sections 2526.1(a)(4)  and  2521.1(d)  of  the
          Rent Stabilization Code (effective May 1,  1987)  governing  rent
          overcharge  and  fair  market  rent  proceedings   provide   that
          determination of these matters be based  upon  the  law  or  code
          provisions in  effect  on  March  31,  1984.   Therefore,  unless
          otherwise indicated, any reference in this order and  opinion  to
          to Sections of the Rent Stabilization Code  is  to  the  Code  in
          effect on April 30, 1987, and this proceeding is being determined 
          in accordance therewith.

          The Commissioner has reviewed all of the evidence in  the  record
          and has carefully considered that portion of the record  relevant
          to the issues raised by the administrative appeal.

          This proceeding was originally commenced by the filing of a  rent
          overcharge complaint  by  the  tenant  with  the  New  York  City
          Conciliation and Appeals Board  (CAB),  one  of  the  predecessor
          agencies to the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). 
          The tenant took occupancy pursuant to a lease commencing July 15, 
          1980 and expiring July 31, 1983 at a monthly rent of $327.22.

          The owner was served  with  a  copy  of  the  complaint  and  was
          requested to submit rent records to prove the lawfulness  of  the
          rent being charged.   In  answer  to  the  complaint,  the  owner
          submitted a complete rental history, and  copies  of  all  leases
          from the base date.

          In  Order  Number  21,660,  the   District   Rent   Administrator






          AJ 110081 RT
          determined that the proceeding should  be  discontinued  and  the
          tenant's complaint dismissed based on  advice  from  the  parties
          that the owner had entered into an  Assurance  of  Discontinuance
          with the Attorney General of the State of New York.

          In this petition, the tenant  contends  that  the  District  Rent
          Administrator's Order is incorrect and should be modified because 
          he was never provided with the rental history of  the  apartment,
          nor was he apprised of the outcome of  the  negotiations  between
          the owner and the Attorney General.

          In answer to this petition, the owner contends that its  response
          in the proceeding before the Administrator did not state that  an
          Assurance Agreement had  been  entered  into  with  the  Attorney
          General; that the owner had submitted a complete  rental  history
          and copies of all leases from the base date; and that  there  has
          been no overcharge.  The owner further contends that the tenant's 
          request for details of the owner's negotiations with the Attorney 
          General's office is moot.

          The Commissioner is of the opinion that this petition  should  be
          granted.

          The Commissioner finds that  the  evidence  of  record  indicates
          that no Assurance of Discontinuance concerning the rent  for  the
          subject apartment has been entered into between the owner and the 
          Attorney General, nor would such an Assurance  of  Discontinuance
          estop the DHCR from exercising its expertise and determining  the
          lawful stabilized rent for the subject apartment  from  the  base
          date.  Therefore the Administrator's order was incorrect and  the
          tenant's overcharge complaint should be processed.

          The Commissioner has reviewed  the  lease  history,  leases,  and
          tenant submissions pertaining to the instant action.  The  lawful
          stabilization rent is shown  on  the  attached  rent  calculation
          chart.  It is determined that the tenant was not overcharged.







          THEREFORE, in accordance with  the  Rent  Stabilization  Law  and
          Code, it is

          ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby  is,  granted
          and the District Rent Administrator's  order  be,  and  the  same
          hereby is, revoked and it  is  found  that  the  tenant  was  not
          overcharged.




          ISSUED:
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  ELLIOT SANDER
                                                  Deputy Commissioner
           






          AJ 110081 RT