Docket Number: BA-210054-RO
                                 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.: BA 210054-RO
                                            :  
             MELOHN PROPERTIES,                DRO DOCKET NO.:  K  3101989-R
          
                              PETITIONER    : 
        ------------------------------------X                           
          
         ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IN
              PART AND MODIFYING DISTRICT RENT ADMINISTRATOR'S ORDER

        On January  13,  1987,  the  above-named  petitioner-owner  filed  a
        Petition for Administrative Review of an order issued on December 9, 
        1986, by the District Rent Administrator, 10  Columbus  Circle,  New
        York, New  York  concerning  the  housing  accommodations  known  as
        Apartment 2-E at 2222 E. 18th Street, Brooklyn, New York wherein the 
        District Rent Administrator determined  that  the  tenant  had  been
        overcharged.  

        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.   The  tenant  took  occupancy
        pursuant to a lease commencing January 1, 1978 and expiring 
        December 31, 1980 at a monthly rent of $258.00.

        In  Order  Number  CDR28,  175,  the  District  Rent   Administrator
        determined the lawful stabilized rent from the base date, determined 
        that the tenant had been overcharged in  the  amount  of  $1,093.37,
        including interest on overcharges collected on  or  after  April  1,
        1984, and directed the refund of such amount to the tenant.

        In this petition, the owner asserts that the  Administrator's  order
        does not include a rent history chart although the order states that 
        such a chart is annexed thereto, that  the  order  contains  only  a
        summary sheet which is ambiguous and erroneous and that the  summary
        sheet does not explain how the overcharge amounts were derived.

        In answer to this petition,  the  tenant  asserts  that  she  should
        receive  all  monies  due  her  based   on   the   rent   overcharge
        determination.

        The  DHCR  subsequently  served  the  owner  with  a  copy  of   the
        Administrator's order with a rental history chart attached.



        In answer, the owner asserts that it advised the DHCR in April, 1986 
        that it had reduced the tenant's rent to the legal amount of $314.75 
        and credited the tenant's account in the sum of $937.46.  The  owner






          Docket Number: BA-210054-RO
        submitted a copy of a submission dated January 17, 1986 date-stamped 
        received by the DHCR April 9, 1986 which included a  letter  to  the
        tenant dated May 20, 1985 advising him of  the  rent  reduction  and
        credit and a rent chart indicating how the owner had calculated  the
        rent and amount of refund.  The owner questions  the  imposition  of
        interest by the Administrator since the owner reduced  the  rent  in
        1985.

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

        The record in this case indicates that the owner advised the DHCR by 
        submission date January 17, 1986 that it had adjusted  the  tenant's
        rent effective June 1, 1985 and credited the tenant's account in the 
        sum of $937.46.  (The DHCR's file copy of this submissi n  is  date-
        stamped received by the DHCR on January  23,  1986.)   However,  the
        Administrator failed to consider this rent adjustment and credit  in
        determining the amount of overcharge.

        Regarding the owner's assertion that the imposition of interest  was
        improper the Commissioner finds that since the  owner  adjusted  the
        tenant's rent to the lawful amount effective June 1, 1985,  interest
        should be imposed for the period from April 1, 1984 to May 31, 1985. 

        The Administrator's order is also amended to include an increase  of
        $7.29 rather than $8.00 for a new refrigerator, as indicated in  the
        owner's rent chart.

        The lawful stabilized  rent  and  total  amount  of  overcharge  are
        recalculated on the attached rental chart, which  is  fully  made  a
        part of this order.  The total amount of overcharge is  $8.17.   The
        owner is directed to refund this amount to the tenant.

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

        ORDERED, that this petition be and the same  hereby  is  granted  in
        part and the District Rent Administrator's order  be  and  the  same
        hereby is modified to the extent hereinabove indicated.

        ISSUED:




                                                                      
                                        ELLIOT SANDER
                                        Deputy Commissioner