Docket Number: FG 410282-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.: FG 410282-RO 
                                                
            BRADFORD N. SWETT & ASSOCIATES,      DRO DOCKET NO.: BJ 410263-R  

                                 PETITIONER     
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             ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

          On July 11, 1991, the above-named petitioner-owner filed a Petition 
          for Administrative Review against an order issued on June  7,  1991
          by the Rent Administrator, 92-31 Union Hall  Street,  Jamaica,  New
          York, concerning housing accommodations known as apartment  #4N  at
          1823 Second Avenue, New York, New York.

          The issue under appeal is whether  the  Administrator's  order  was
          warranted.

          The proceeding was commenced with the filing by  the  tenant  of  a
          Tenant's Complaint of Rent Overcharge on October  15,  1987.    The
          tenant took occupancy on June 15, 1987 at a rent of $950.00  for  a
          lease commencing June 15, 1987 and terminating June 14, 1989.

          In response, the owner stated that the apartment was formerly  rent
          controlled.  The owner submitted copies of forms  DC-2A  and  RR-1,
          served on July 13, 1987.

          On July 30, 1990 the proceeding was reassigned for processing as  a
          Fair Market Rent Appeal.  On April 17,  1991  the  owner  requested
          dismissal, alleging that the appeal, having been filed more than 90 
          days after service of Forms DC-2 and RR-1 on the  tenant,  was  not
          timely.

          By letter dated June 5, 1991, received by the Division on  June  7,
          1991, the owner stated that  the  tenant  wanted  to  withdraw  her
          complaint pursuant to a stipulation wherein the  tenant  agreed  to
          withdraw the proceeding.  With its petition the owner  submitted  a
          copy of the stipulation dated May 16, 1991 and a copy of  a  letter
          from the tenant to the Division dated May  16,  1991,  date-stamped
          received by the Division May 21, 1991, wherein  the  tenant  stated
          that she had reached a settlement with  the  owner  and  wished  to
          withdraw  her  complaint.   The  owner  noted  that   the   initial
          Administrator's order  issued  in  this  case,  dated  May  4,  was
          actually mailed on June 4, 1991.  The owner enclosed the Division's 
          mailing envelope, postmarked  June  4,  1991  in  support  of  that
          contention.






          Docket Number: FG 410282-RO

          On June 7, 1991 an Amended  Order  and  Determination  was  issued,
          establishing the initial legal registered rent.  The amendment  was
          the correction of the issuance date only.

          In its petition for administrative review, the owner contends  that
          the Administrator's order should not have been issued, based on the 
          withdrawal of the tenant's  complaint;  that  said  withdrawal  was
          pursuant to a so-ordered stipulation by Justice J. Klein; and  that
          the owner's reliance  upon  the  withdrawal  letter  precluded  its
          submission of comparability data. 

          By letter of June 13, 1991, the tenant advised that she  had  moved
          to withdraw her consent order based on a material misrepresentation 
          by the owner, i.e., that the Division's determination,  purportedly
          dated May 4, 1991, was known to said  owner.   On  July  29,  1991,
          Judge Klein denied the motion.

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

          Section 2520.13  of  the  Rent  Stabilization  Code,  provides,  in
          pertinent part:  "An agreement by the tenant to waive  the  benefit
          of any provision of  the  RSL  or  this  Code  is  void;  provided,
          however, that  based  upon  a  negotiated  settlement  between  the
          parties and with the approval of the DHCR, or a court of  competent
          jurisdiction where a tenant is represented by counsel, a tenant may 
          withdraw, with prejudice, any complaint pending before the DHCR."

          The Commissioner finds that the criteria of  Section  2520.13  were
          met by the parties, and that the tenant's withdrawal and so-ordered 
          stipulation of May 16, 1991 precluded the issuance of the Order  by
          the Rent Administrator.

          It appears from the record  that  the  tenant's  letter  requesting
          withdrawal did not reach  the  Administrator  in  time  to  prevent
          issuance of the Order, although delivered to the  Division  on  May
          21,  1991.   It  is  noted  that  the  Administrator's  order   was
          originally issued on June 4, 1991  (as  evidenced  by  the  mailing
          envelope submitted by the owner), after  the  parties  had  entered
          into the stipulation.

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

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

          ISSUED:

                                                                        
                                          ELLIOT SANDER
                                          Deputy Commissioner