AL410121RO

                                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  SJR 6823 (Mandamus)
      IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE :  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
      APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO. AL410121RO

                                          :  DISTRICT RENT OFFICE
                                             DOCKET NO. L3116535R/T, 
           Clarendon Management Corp.,                  CDR 29071
                                             
                                             TENANT: Ellen Steinberg          
                 
                            PETITIONER    : 
      ------------------------------------X                             

          ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW


      On December 8, 1986 the above-named petitioner-owner filed a Petition 
      for Administrative Review against an order issued on November 24, 1986 
      by the Rent Administrator, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York       
      concerning the housing accommodations known as 455 West 23rd Street, 
      New York, New York, Apartment No. 9D wherein the Rent Administrator 
      determined that the owner had overcharged the tenant in the amount of 
      $5,982.44 as of September 30, 1986.

      Subsequent thereto, the petitioner owner filed a petition in the Supreme 
      Court pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules 
      requesting that the Court mandate an expeditious determination of its 
      administrative appeal.  

      In this petition, the owner contends in substance that the tenant wrote 
      a letter to the DHCR on September 28, 1986 withdrawing her overcharge 
      complaint, and that the DHCR received it on October 16, 1986, 
      approximately five weeks prior to the issuance of the Administrator's 
      order on November 24, 1986.  With its petition the owner enclosed a copy 
      of a letter from the tenant to the DHCR, dated September 28, 1986, 
      stating that she wished to drop the overcharge complaint.  The owner 
      also enclosed a copy of a certified mail receipt for an article received 
      by the DHCR on October 16, 1986. 

      The owner later submitted a supplement to its petition, contending that 
      the JRD Management court case meant that it did not have to submit a 
      rental history for periods prior to November 24, 1982.


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













          AL410121RO

      Prior to the time that the Administrator issued an order, the tenant 
      withdrew her complaint.  It is possible that the tenant's withdrawal 
      letter did not reach the appropriate file until after the order was 
      issued.  The Commissioner considers it appropriate to permit the tenant 
      to withdraw her complaint, just as she would have been free to not file 
      a complaint in the first place.

      The Commissioner notes that the tenant vacated in 1986 (her lease 
      expired April 30, 1986, her withdrawal letter was dated September 28, 
      1986, and a new tenant began a lease on November 15, 1986), and that the 
      DHCR does not have a forwarding address for her.

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

      ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby is, granted; that 
      the Rent Administrator's order be, and the same hereby is, revoked; and 
      that this proceeding be, and the same hereby is, terminated.

      ISSUED:



                                                                    
                                      JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                      Deputy Commissioner