EH 210201-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
                                
                                
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IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE     ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
APPEAL OF                               DOCKET NO.: EH 210201 RO

     HEIGHTS MANAGEMENT                 DISTRICT RENT
                                        ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET
                                        NO.: CL 210384 S
                        PETITIONER
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  ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
                                
     On August 21, 1990 the above named petitioner-owner timely
refiled a Petition for Administrative Review against an order  of
the  Rent  Administrator issued May 2, 1990.  The order concerned
housing  accommodations known as Apt. E20 located at 7901  Fourth
Avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.Y.   The  Administrator  ordered   a   rent
reduction based on decreased services.

      The  Commissioner  has reviewed the  record  and  carefully
considered  that portion relevant to the issues  raised  by  this
appeal.

      The  tenant commenced this proceeding by filing a Statement
of  Complaint of Decrease in Services on December 12, 1988.   She
alleged  that  that the walls and ceilings of her apartment  were
cracking and the plaster falling.  She also alleged a water  leak
in  the  bathroom, causing the wallpaper to peel.  The owner  was
served  with  a copy of the complaint and afforded an opportunity
to respond.

       The  owner  failed  to  respond  to  the  complaint.   The
Administrator  ordered  a  physical  inspection  of  the  subject
premises.  The inspection was conducted on March 2 and March  13,
1990  and  revealed that plaster and painting  were  done  in  an
unworkmanlike  manner.  The Administrator issued the  order  here
under  review on May 2, 1990.  Subsequent thereto,  on  April  9,
1991, the Administrator issued an Amended Order which corrected
the  tenant's status, stated a monetary amount of the  reduction,
and  changed the effective date of the reduction. None  of  these
changes  are  germane  to  the  issues  raised  by  the  petition
currently pending before the Commissioner.

       On  appeal,  the  owner  requests  that  the  premises  be
re-inspected  and states that the work was done in a  workmanlike
manner.   The  tenant  filed a response  on  September  17,  1990
wherein  she  disputed the owner's allegations.  She stated  that
nothing had been done to rectify the condition.

      After  careful  review of the evidence in the  record,  the
Commissioner  is  of  the  opinion that the  petition  should  be
denied.

      Any statements made by the owner regarding repairs done  to
the apartment after the Administrator issued the order here under
review are irrelevant to the issue of whether the Administrator's
order was correct as issued.  If the owner believes that services
have  been restored, the appropriate action is to file  for  rent
restoration.  If  the owner's assertions are a challange  to  the
Administrator's  findings,  this  too  must   be   denied.    The
Administrator based the order here under review on the report  of
the inspector and it is settled that the inspector's findings are
entitled to more probative weight than the unsupported assertions
of  a  party  to the proceeding.  The Administrator's  order,  as
modified, is affirmed.

      THEREFORE, pursuant to 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, as modified, be,
and the same hereby is, affirmed.

ISSUED:


                                         JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                         Deputy Commissioner
    

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