BL 230190 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.: BL 230190 RO

               Joseph Schonwald,               DISTRICT RENT ADMINISTRATOR
                                               DOCKET NO.: BA 230019
                                   PETITIONER
          -----------------------------------X

            ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

          On December 31, 1987, the above-named owner filed a petition  for
          administrative review of an order issued on December 1, 1987 by a 
          Rent Administrator concerning the housing accommodations known as 
          various apartments, 1421 53rd Street, Brooklyn, New York.

          The Commissioner has reviewed all the evidence in the record  and
          has carefully considered that portion of the record  relevant  to
          the issues raised by the petition for review.

          This proceeding was commenced by the filing of a complaint  of  a
          decrease in building-wide services.

          The owner answered asserting, in substance, that the   complaints
          were untrue.

          On April 27 and June 8, 1987 physical inspections of the  subject
          premises revealed that the public areas were dirty.

          On December 1, 1987 that the Rent Administrator issued the  order
          here under review, finding that  a  diminution  of  services  had
          occurred and reducing rents.

          In its petition the owner, in substance, asserts that  the  areas
          are clean.  The owner explains that  a  tenant  who  was  in  the
          process of moving out of the premises had generated debris in the 
          public areas.

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

          The Commissioner notes that reports  of  two  agency  inspections
          which were conducted two months apart, indicated that the  public
          areas were dirty.  With regard to the owner's  assertion  that  a
          tenant's moving generated debris,  the  Commissioner  notes  that
          there is no allegation that the moving occurred on  the  date  of
          one of the inspections.  Furthermore, the owner has submitted  no
          evidence to establish when the moving took  place,  or  by  whom.
          Finally, the report of the other inspection  confirmed  that  the
          public areas were dirty.

          Accordingly, the Commissioner is of the  opinion  that  the  Rent
          Administrator's order was  correct  when  issued  and  should  be






          BL 230190 RO
          affirmed.

          This order is issued without prejudice to the owner's  filing  an
          application for a rent restoration when all required services are 
          maintained.  

          THEREFORE, in accordance with the City  Rent  and  Rehabilitation
          Law,  the  Rent  and   Eviction   Regulations,   and   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
                                                       Deputy Commissioner