BJ 110126 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 REVIEW
          APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO. BJ 110126 RT

                                              :  DISTRICT RENT OFFICE
               Margaret Littman,                 DOCKET NO. 051770
                                                
                                                 OWNER: Weinreb Mgt.          
                    
                                PETITIONER    : 
          ------------------------------------X                             


             ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW



          On October 7, 1987, the above-named tenant filed a Petition for 
          Administrative Review against an order issued on September 4, 1987  
          by the Rent Administrator, Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 
          concerning the housing accommodations located at 65-61 Saunders 
          Street, Rego Park, New York, Apartment No. 5G, wherein the  
          Administrator had dismissed the rental aspect of a Tenant's 
          Objection to Rent/Services Registration. 

          This proceeding was commenced when the tenant filed that Objection 
          in September of 1984.  Before that, however, she had filed a 
          Tenant's Complaint of Rent Overcharges, pursuant to which, under 
          docket number 82427-G, the Administrator on March 6, 1985, 
          determined that the rental history of these premises revealed no 
          overcharge.  Later the order here appealed, referred to in the 
          caption above, provided: as to the rental aspect of the tenant's 
          Objection, that it was "a duplicate of a complaint . . . to which 
          docket number 82427-G was assigned," the determination of which had 
          "resolved the overcharge issue raised by the tenant," and that the 
          instant complaint would therefore be "dismissed"; and as to other 
          aspects of the Objection, that the registration of the premises 
          would be corrected to reflect facts brought out by the tenant.

          In attacking that order, petitioner states that her apartment was 
          never "vacant" (and therefore never "qualified for vacancy 
          decontrol"), in that she moved in immediately after the previous 
          tenant had moved out.

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



          It is axiomatic that absent a timely appeal or a showing of fraud or 
          illegality or irregularity in vital matters, the Commissioner will 







          BJ 110126 RT

          not decide issues of law or fact as to the merits of which this 
          Division has issued a prior determination after full opportunity to 
          litigate such issue was afforded to the party now seeking the new 
          determination.

          Petitioner states no reason to upset the Administrator's decision 
          that her Objection, stating that her April 1, 1984 registered rent 
          constituted an overcharge, was duplicative of her earlier Complaint 
          that there was an overcharge involved in her leases for the period 
          from 1976 to 1985.  While the two complaints are not identical, the 
          earlier finding, that there was no overcharge during the last- 
          mentioned period, must be deemed to have disposed of the later 
          allegation that the 1984 registered rent -- identical to the 1984 
          rent charged the tenant in the earlier proceeding -- was excessive.  
          In addition it is noted that contrary to the tenant's allegation on 
          appeal that the Rent Administrator in the order issued in 1985 under 
          docket number 82427-G had found no overcharge on the belief that the 
          subject apartment had been vacancy decontrolled immediately prior to 
          occupancy by the tenant herein, the 1985 order rather was based on 
          a complete rental history including the lease of a prior tenant 
          which was in effect from July 1973 to June 1976 and which listed a 
          rent of $250.00 for the subject apartment.  The tenant herein paid 
          an initial rent of $285.00 effective November 1, 
          1976, pursuant to a three year lease; and since the owner was 
          entitled to guideline and vacancy allowances of 16% over the $250.00 
          prior 
          rent pursuant to Guideline 8, no rent overcharge occurred.

          There is in sum no reason to revoke the Administrator's dismissal of 
          the overcharge aspect of the tenant's Objection, and 

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