DHCR Decisions          Docket No. BA 620099-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. BA 620099-RO                                                  DISTRICT RENT                                                  ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET                                                  NO. BC 001299-FR          Rickshaw Realty Corporation                                  PETITIONER          ------------------------------------X            ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW              On January 13, 1987, the above-named owner filed  a  petition          for administrative review of an order issued on December 9,  1986          by a District Rent Administrator  concerning  various  apartments          located at 1233 White Plains Road, Bronx, New York.              The issue in this proceeding is whether the Administrator was          warranted in suspending and revoking the total  accumulated  Fuel          Cost rent adjustment for 1984.              This  proceeding  was  commenced   by   the   District   Rent          Administrator mailing to the landlord a "Notice  of  Commencement          of Proceeding to Suspend and Revoke Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA)."              On December 9, 1986, the District Rent  Administrator  issued          an order of suspension and revocation of  Fuel  Cost  adjustments          for 1984.  The Administrator found that the owner who  previously          obtained a fuel cost increase rent adjustment, failed to  file  a          timely report of fuel cost price  decrease,  within  60  days  of          promulgation of the  calculated  decrease.   The  Administrator's          order revoked the total accumulated fuel  cost  rent  adjustment,          effective January 1, 1984 through December 31, 1984.              The landlord's petition asserts that it purchased the subject          building on August 29, 1984; that the prior owner failed to  file          for a fuel cost adjustment for the previous year; that  the  rent          agency issued an order issued on August 30,  1983,  under  Docket          No. 6RFC-137489, 3FC-350, 5RFC-134096 which revoked the fuel cost          rent adjustment, effective January 1, 1983 through  December  31,          1983; that pursuant to  the  above-mentioned  order  the  subject          landlord gave the subject  tenants  "the  credit  retroactive  to          January 1, 1984  on a lump-sum on November 1984 rent bills;" that          in response to the February 5, 1986 "Notice  of  Commencement  of          Proceeding" the landlord submitted an answer to the rent  agency,          dated February 11, 1986, which asserted  that  the  tenants  were          given credit for the fuel cost increase, and  the  owner  alleges          that the Administrator's order was incorrect as the tenants  were          already given refunds for the fuel cost  decreases.  The landlord          Docket No. BA 620099-RO          further asserts that if the subject tenants  are  entitled  to  a          refund, then the prior landlord should be liable for it.              After  careful  consideration  the  Commissioner  is  of  the          opinion that this petition should be denied.              The Commissioner notes that the landlord does not  raise  any          issues which  would  warrant  the  Administrator's  order  to  be          modified or revoked.              The pertinent portion of  the  Administrator's  order  merely          pointed out that the landlord did not file  a  timely  report  of          fuel cost price decrease, and therefore, the landlord  would  not          be entitled to collect  a  fuel  cost  rent  adjustment  for  the          appllicable  time   period,   followed   by   a   resumption   of          collectibility in a reduced  amount.   The  Commissioner  further          notes that it is implied in the Administrator's order that if the          landlord's allegation, as stated in the petition, is  true,  then          the landlord would not have to refund any money to the tenant.              The Commissioner finds that the  fact  that  this  owner  had          acquired the subject building in 1984 does  not  excuse  it  from          following  the  Administrator's  determination,  because  a   new          landlord  steps  into  the  shoes  of  the  former  landlord  and          therefore, the petitioner is required to  refund  or  credit  any          fuel cost allowance increase paid  by  the  subject  tenants,  as          noted in the Administrator's order.              Accordingly, the Commissioner finds that the  Administrator's          order should be affirmed.              THEREFORE,   in   accordance   with   the   City   Rent   and          Rehabilitation Law and the Rent and Eviction Regulations, it is              ORDERED, that this petition  be,  and  the  same  hereby  is,          denied, and that the Rent Administrator's order be, and the  same          hereby is, affirmed.          ISSUED:                                                                                                                       Joseph A. D'Agosta                                             Acting Deputy Commissioner