FI 610148-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.:
                                        FI 610148-RO
                                        MORNINGSIDE PROPERTIES/            DISTRICT
                                        RENT
     VINCENT GARROW,                    ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET NO.:
                                        EE 610222-S
                                        PREMISES: 3021 Heath Ave.
                        PETITIONER      Apt. 24, Bronx, NY
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  ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
                                
                                
The  above named owner filed a timely Petition for Administrative
Review  of  an order issued on September 5, 1991, concerning  the
housing  accommodations  relating to the  above-described  docket
number.

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.

The tenant commenced this proceeding on May 21, 1990 by filing  a
complaint   asserting,  inter  alia,  that  "vermin  and   rodent
infestation are a constant sight at the apartment."

In  its  answer  filed  on  May 30, 1990,  the  owner  denied  in
substance the allegations as set forth in the tenant's complaint,
and otherwise asserted that all repairs are promptly attended  to
and  that the exterminator serviced the tenant's apartment on May
25, 1990.

Thereafter,  the subject apartment was inspected  on  August  21,
1991,  by  a  DHCR  staff  member who reported  "mouse  droppings
throughout the apartment" and "roaches in the kitchen."

Based  on said inspection, the Administrator directed restoration
of services and a reduction of the stabilized rent.


In this petition, the owner contends in substance that the vermin
problem in the subject apartment has been eradicated.  The  owner
includes  with  the petition a letter dated September  17,  1991,
from  an extermination company stating that it has been servicing
the building since December 1990 on a monthly basis and will also
make  special calls, and a copy of an affirmation by  the  tenant
dated  September  26,  1991  that the  owner  has  corrected  the
condition for which the rent was reduced.

After  careful consideration, the Commissioner is of the  opinion
that the petition should be denied.

The  owner  did  not submit any evidence to the Administrator  to
substantiate the contention that regular exterminator service  is
provided or that a special visit by the exterminator was arranged
in  response  to  the  tenant's complaint  of  infestation.   The
physical inspection by DHCR confirmed the need for vermin control
in  the  apartment and the documents which the owner submits  for
the  first time on appeal are beyond the scope of review  and  do
not  establish  that  the  condition  was  corrected  before  the
Administrator's order was issued.

The  owner may file an application for rent restoration based  on
the restoration of services if the facts so warrant.


THEREFORE,  in  accordance  with  the  provision  of   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
                                    Acting Deputy Commissioner