ADM. APPEAL DOCKET NO. BC 410032 - 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

          ------------------------------------X 
          IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE :  ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL
          APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO.               
                                                 BC 410032 - RT 
                                              :
                                                 DRO DOCKET NO.           
                                                 41346                      
             
                 TODD LEFTON
                                                  

                              PETITIONER      : 
          ------------------------------------X                             

            ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW


               On March 6, 1987 the above-named petitioner tenant filed  an
          Administrative Appeal against a Notice of Disposition  issued  on
          February 11, 1987  by  the  District  Rent  Administrator,  Gertz
          Plaza, concerning the housing accommodations known  as  200  West
          20th Street, New York, New York, Apartment No. 716,  wherein  the
          Administrator dismissed the tenant's objection to  the  apartment
          registration on grounds said objection was untimely.

               This proceeding was commenced on December 28, 1984 when  the
          tenant (Todd Lefton) filed an objection to the Rent and  Services
          Registration filed by the  owner  with  respect  to  the  subject
          accommodation.  The tenant  stated  that  said  registration  was
          received on July 21, 1984 but that he was unable to file  earlier
          due to illness; and that he was making  an  overcharge  complaint
          and fair market rent appeal per attached forms. 

               The Administrator issued the Notice of Disposition  appealed
          herein dismissing said objection since it was received  160  days
          after the tenant acknowledged receipt of the registration. 

               In  this  petition  for  administrative  review  the  tenant
          contends, in substance, that the Administrator failed to  address
          the statement made in the objection to the effect that he was 







          ADM. APPEAL DOCKET NO. BC 410032 - RT


          unable to file same within 90 days of receipt of the registration 
          due to illness; that he had been advised, upon inquiry of the 
          Division, to file the form  with  the  notation  thereon  of  his
          inability to file within the time prescribed; that the 
          Administrator failed to address the fact  that  a  separate  Fair
          Market/Rent Overcharge complaint had  simultaneously  been  filed
          wherein he detailed a complaint regarding the rent  charged  upon
          his first rental of the apartment in October 1983 and that he may 
          be the first stabilized tenant of the  apartment,  and  that  the
          "Amended 1983 Omnibus Act" allows a four year limit to file  such
          Fair Market/Rent Overcharge complaint. 

               In response thereto the owner states, in substance, that the 
          petition should be denied since the  tenant  concededly  did  not
          file a timely objection within 90 days as required  by  the  Rent
          Stabilization Law.  

               After a careful consideration  of  the  entire  record,  the
          Commissioner is of the  opinion  that  this  petition  should  be
          denied.

               The tenant's interpretation of the Rent Stabilization Law is 
          incorrect.  Section 26-513 (e)  of  the  Rent  Stabilization  Law
          provides as follows: 

                    "Notwithstanding any contrary provision in 
                    this law an application for an adjustment 
                    pursuant to this section [Application for 
                    adjustment of initial rent - i.e. fair 
                    market rent appeal] must be filed within
                    ninety days from the initial registration.
                    This subdivision shall not extend any other
                    time limitations imposed by this law." 

               Section 26-516 of the Rent Stabilization  Law  provides,  in
          pertinent part, that any objection to the initial registration by 
          the owner shall be filed within ninety days  of  the  mailing  of
          notice to the tenant of such registration.

               In the instant proceeding the tenant acknowledged receipt of 
          the initial registration of the subject  apartment  on  July  21,
          1984.  The tenant concedes that objection to said registration as 
          well as the attached Fair Market/Rent Overcharge complaint  forms
          (assigned Docket No. 41346) were not filed within  the  requisite
          90 days but urges  that  the  delay  should  be  excused  due  to
          illness.  The Commissioner finds that the Rent Stabilization  Law
          does not provide for any exception.  The same rule applies to the 
          filing of a complaint of rent overcharge or fair market rent 






          ADM. APPEAL DOCKET NO. BC 410032 - RT


          appeal  within   the   context   of   the   instant   proceeding.
          Furthermore, even if there  were  an  exception  for  illness,  a
          petitioner would have to show incapacity for the  entire  90  day
          period, something the facts is this  case  does  not  show.   The
          Commissioner  notes  that   the   case   and   related   reopened
          proceedings  (involving  another  building)  alluded  to  by  the
          petitioner is distinguishable in that the tenant  in  that  other
          matter had filed a fair market rent challenge within 90  days  of
          receipt of  the  1984  initial  registration.   Accordingly,  the
          Commissioner finds that the tenant's arguments  are  insufficient
          to warrant revocation of the Administrator's determination. 

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

               ORDERED, that this petition  be,  and  the  same  hereby  is
          denied;  and  that  the  Notice  of  Disposition  issued  by  the
          Administrator be, and the same hereby is affirmed.

          ISSUED:





                                                                        
                                          JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                          Deputy Commissioner




                                                    

    

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