BG 110233 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

          ------------------------------------X 
          IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE   ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
          APPEAL OF                             DOCKET NO.: BG 110233 RO


                      MARINA HIGGINS,           DRO DOCKET NO.: 045398

                                                TENANT: OVIDIO RUIZ           
                                  PETITIONER    
          ------------------------------------X                             

            ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW


          On July 17, 1987 the above-named petitioner-owner filed a Petition 
          for Administrative Review against an order issued on July 13, 1987,  
          by the Rent Administrator, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 
          concerning the housing accommodations known as 135-34 82nd Drive 
          (aka 137-25 83rd Avenue) Queens, New York, Apartment No. 1A, 
          wherein the Rent Administrator determined that based on the owner's 
          failure to respond the tenant objections to the initial apartment 
          registration were deemed admitted.

          The Administrative Appeal is being determined pursuant to the 
          provisions of Section 2528.2 of the Rent Stabilization Code.

          The issue herein is whether the Rent Administrator's order was 
          warranted.

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

          This proceeding was originally commenced by the filing of a tenants 
          Objection Form challenging the owner's apartment registration 
          statement.  The tenant alleged in substance that the lease 
          expiration date of August 31, 1985 shown on the registration form 
          is incorrect.  The tenant contended that the correct lease 
          expiration date was August 31, 1984 and the rent is now $323.72.

          In Order Number 045398, the Rent Administrator determined among 
          other things that due to the owner's failure to respond that the 
          tenant's factual allegations were deemed admitted and that the 
          correct expiration date is August 1, 1984 and the April 1, 1984 
          rent was $323.72.

          In this petition, the owner contends in substance that it did 
          submit a timely response and re-submitted a copy of that response 
          date-stamped as received on April 7, 1987 by the Division of 
          Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).  In that response, the owner 
          concurred with the tenant that the correct lease expiration date 
          was August 31, 1984.  The owner, however, stated that the rent on 







          BG 110233 RO

          April 1, 1984 was $303.84 and that the rent of $323.72 stated by 
          the tenant on the tenant objection form filed on September 17, 1984 
          as "the rent now is $323.72" referred to the tenant's rent 
          contained in their 2 year renewal lease commencing September 1, 
          1984 and not the April 1, 1984 rent which the Rent Administrator 
          stated in the order as $323.72.

          In answer to the owner's petition, the tenant stated in substance 
          that the owner was right.

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

          An examination of the record in this case discloses that the owner 
          did submit a timely response to the tenant's objection concurring 
          with the tenant's contention that the lease expiration was August 
          31, 1984 but explained that the rent on April 1, 1984 was not 
          $323.72 and that $323.72 was the renewal lease rent commencing 
          September 1, 1984.  Upon service of the owner's Petition on the 
          tenant, the tenant concurred with the facts as presented in the 
          owner's April 7, 1987 submission.

          A review of the Agency's 1984 registration data for the subject 
          apartment indicates the lease expiration date as August 31, 1985 
          and the April 1, 1984 rent as $302.54.

          Accordingly, the apartment registration is hereby amended to show 
          the lease expiration date as August 31, 1984 and the April 1, 1984 
          rent as $303.84.  In addition, the Rent Administrator's order is 
          modified to indicate the owner's timely response and the corrected 
          lease expiration date and April 1, 1984 rent.

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

          ORDERED, that this petition for administrative review be, and the 
          same hereby is, granted, and, that the order of the Rent 
          Administrator be, and the same hereby is, modified in accordance 
          with this order and opinion.



          ISSUED



                                                                           
                                          JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                          Acting Deputy Commissioner