DHCR Decisions          ADM. REVIEW DOCKET NOS. BE420103RT, BE430032RT AND BJ420232RT                                 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          APPEALS OF                              DOCKET NOS. BE420103RT,                                                  BE430032RT and BJ420232RT               MARIA RAMIREZ, MARIA GONZALEZ,     DISTRICT RENT               AND RICHARD BURKE,                 ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET                                                  NO. AC420001RR                                            PETITIONERS          ------------------------------------X            ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW               In May, 1987 the above-named tenants filed petitions for          administrative review of an order issued on April 29, 1987 by the          Administrator concerning various housing accommodations in the          premises known as 122-126 West 83rd Street, New York, New York.               Since the petitions involve common questions of law and fact,          the Commissioner deems it appropriate to consolidate the          proceedings for disposition herein.               The Commissioner has reviewed all of the evidence in the          record and has carefully considered that portion of the record          relevant to the issues raised by the petitions for review.               This proceeding was commenced by the filing of a "Landlord's          Application For Modification of Maximum Collectible Rent" for the          subject apartments pursuant to former Section 33.9 of the City          Rent, Eviction and Rehabilitation Regulations (now under Section          2202.12 of the City Rent and Eviction Regulations).                 In the above-mentioned application the subject landlord          affirmed, on March 12, 1986, the following:          ADM. REVIEW DOCKET NOS. BE420103RT, BE430032RT AND BJ420232RT                    An increase in rents in the                    above premises is requested based                    upon increased maintenance                    and operation costs and the                    payment of debt service.  This                    property has been rehabilitated                    and was financed by a Municipal                    Loan under Article VIII of                    the Private Housing Finance                    Law....               Also in the above-mentioned application the Department of          Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)-Office of Development          certified, on March 18, 1986, that:                    [T]he increased rent applied for is                    the minimum necessary for the continued                    financial survival of these premises                    as contemplated under Article VIII                    of the Private Housing Finance Law.                    A breakdown of costs and approved                    financial justification report has                    been submitted to the District                    Rent Office.               In the order under review herein, the Administrator granted          the subject landlord's application, and increased the maximum rents          of the subject apartments, pursuant to the former Section 33.9 of          the City Rent, Eviction, and Rehabilitation Regulations.               The subject tenants allege that they are senior citizens; that          the maximum rent increases are substantial, and that two of the          tenants assert that they live on a fixed income, and that they can          not afford to pay the increase in their maximum rent.               After careful consideration, the Commissioner is of the          opinion that the subject tenants' petitions should be denied.               Section 2202.12 of the City Rent and Eviction Regulations          provides as follows:                    The administrator may grant an                    appropriate adjustment where he          ADM. REVIEW DOCKET NOS. BE420103RT, BE430032RT AND BJ420232RT                    finds that there has been a                    rehabilitation or improvement of                    substandard or deteriorated housing                    accommodations which has been                    financed under a governmental                    program providing assistance                    through loans, loan insurance                    or tax abatement, or which                    has been undertaken under any                    other rehabilitation program                    not so financed but approved                    by the administrator.               The Commissioner finds that the subject landlord has met the          requirements for maximum rent increases in the subject building          pursuant to the above-mentioned regulation.               The Commissioner takes note of the fact that increases in the          maximum rents of senior citizens living on a fixed income may cause          financial hardships on them.  However, the Commissioner is          constrained to affirm the Administrator's order pursuant to the          aforementioned rent regulation.               Accordingly, the Commissioner finds that the tenants'          petitions should be denied.               THEREFORE, in accordance with the City Rent and Rehabilitation          Law and the Rent and Eviction Regulations, it is               ORDERED, that these petitions be, and the same hereby are,          denied, and that the Rent Administrator's order be, and the same          hereby is, affirmed.          ISSUED:                                                                                                                   JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA                                             Deputy Commissioner