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.: CD 410041-RO
                                         :  
                                            DRO DOCKET NO.: 45751 EXAMINING 
       JACOB WEINREB-OWNER                                  UNIT
                           PETITIONER    :  
     ------------------------------------X  TENANT: MEREDITH ANDUR &   
                                                    HEATHER WINTERS

           ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

     On April 27,  1988,  the  above-named  petitioner  filed  a  Petition  for
     Administrative Review against an order issued on March  25,  1988  by  the
     Rent Administrator, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York concerning  the
     housing accommodation known as 145 East 92nd Street,  Apartment  3-D,  New
     York, New York wherein the Administrator  directed  the  owner  to  refund
     overcharges of 9,478.05 inclusive of interest on the overcharges collected 
     on or after April 1, 1984.

     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.

     The tenants commenced this proceeding by filing an objection to  the  1984
     Apartment  Registration,  alleging  that  the  rent  being  paid  was   an
     overcharge.

     A copy of the complaint, along with a demand for the rental history of the 
     subject premises was served on the owner.  

     In response, the owner submitted a complete set of leases, dating back  to
     the applicable base date.  The owner stated that it had  incorrectly  used
     Guideline #13 twice thereby causing an inadvertent overcharge.

     On March 25, 1988, the Administrator issued the order here  under  review,
     establishing the legal regulated rent at $1,337.266 for the period October 
     1, 1987 through September 30, 1989  and  directing  the  owner  to  refund
     $9,478.05 including interest on the  overcharge  occurring  on  and  after
     April 1, 1984.

     In the appeal, the petitioner contends that because the overcharge was not 
     willful, the order should be modified to exclude the interest computed  on
     the overcharge.

     In response, the tenants stated that the petition  should  be  denied  and
     that the amount to be refunded should be made current and  should  include
     treble damages.

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





          DOCKET NUMBER: CD 410041-RO
     Chapter 403 of the Omnibus Housing Act of 1983 provides in pertinent  part
     that an owner found to have overcharged shall, in all cases,  be  assessed
     interest from the date of the first  overcharge  commencing  on  or  after
     April 1, 1984, unless treble damages are imposed.

     Accordingly, the  Commissioner  finds  that  the  Administrator  correctly
     assessed interest in the instant case.

     With respect to the tenant's request for treble damages, the  Commissioner
     notes that the tenant did  not  file  an  appeal.   Moreover,  the  treble
     damages penalty is assessed  only  when  an  overcharge  is  found  to  be
     willful.  The Administrator determined correctly that the  overcharge  was
     not willful, since based on the compounding of Guidelines increases during 
     a single Guideline period.  See Policy Statement 89-2.  

     Pursuant to Code Section 2529.6, the scope of review on appeal is  limited
     to  facts  and  evidence  before  the  administrator.   Accordingly,   the
     Commissioner has not computed the overcharge  beyond  the  Administrator's
     computation.

     The Commissioner notes that correspondence is the file indicates that  the
     tenant has been advised that she  may  file  a  new  overcharge  complaint
     subject to treble damages based  on the owner's failure to adjust the rent 
     subsequent to the issuance of the order here under appeal.

     This order may, upon the expiration of the period in which the  owner  may
     institute a proceeding pursuant to  Article  seventy-eight  of  the  Civil
     Practice Law and rules, be filed and enforced by the  tenant  against  the
     owner in the same manner as a judgment or not in excess of twenty  percent
     thereof per month may be offset against any rent thereafter due the owner.

     THEREFORE, in accordance with the Omnibus Housing Act of 1983 and the Rent 
     Stabilization Law and Code, it is

     ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby  is  denied,  and  the
     Rent Administrator's order be, and the same hereby is affirmed.

     ISSUED:










                                                                   
                                            ELLIOT SANDER
                                          Deputy Commissioner