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                                    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.:   
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                                                  RENT ADMINISTRATOR'S
                 SHOMER MANAGEMENT CORP./         DOCKET NO.:
                      Y. M. SINGER,               EH 630131B
                     
                                                  PREMISES:
                                                  2184 Barnes Ave.
                                                            PETITIONER     Bronx, New York
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          ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND  
                           REVOKING ADMINISTRATOR'S ORDER  
                                          
          The above-named owner filed a timely petition for administrative 
          review of an order issued on August 12, 1991 concerning the housing 
          accommodations relating to the above-described docket number.

          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 petition.

          Various tenants commenced this proceeding on August 31, 1990 by 
          filing a complaint asserting that "the elevator stopped working" 
          and that they "still do not have any elevator service."

          In its answer filed on September 21, 1990, the owner stated that by 
          "an act of God" (i.e. extremely heavy rainfall) and the city's 
          failure "to clean out the sewers in front of the building," the 
          elevator service had broken down; that the elevator's "traveling 
          cables had to be replaced" and its electrical parts had to be dried 
          out to work properly; and that the elevator is now in working 
          order.


          Thereafter on October 22, 1990 and January 4, 1991, physical 
          inspections of the elevators in the subject building were conducted 
          by a DHCR staff member who reported that the "elevator sliding door 
          closes slowly."  The inspector reported on October 22, 1990 that 
          the elevator does not stop level on 3rd and 5th floors; and that 
          the cab going down is 1 3/4 inches below the floor.  The 
          inspector reported on January 4, 1991, that the "elevator stops on 
          3rd and 5th floors as follows:  













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                    Third Floor -  ascending 1 « inches high, 
                                   and descending 1 inch below. 
                    Fifth Floor -  ascending 1 inch high, and 
                                   descending 1 inch below." 

          Based on the inspection report, the Administrator directed the 
          restoration of the elevator service and further ordered a reduction 
          of the rent of stabilized and rent control tenants.

          In this petition, the owner contends that the elevator problem "was 
          due to normal maintenance care", and thus no rent reduction is 
          warranted.

          Various tenants answered the owner's petition, stating in substance 
          that the elevator service is still defective.

          After careful consideration of the entire evidence of record, the 
          Commissioner is of the opinion that the petition should be granted. 

          The original complaint of various tenants on August 31, 1990 
          asserted that "the elevator stopped working" and that they "still 
          do not have any elevator service." In answer, the owner stated that 
          the elevator is now in working order. The Commissioner finds that 
          the DHCR inspections conducted on October 22, 1990 and January 4, 
          1991 went beyond the allegations of the tenants' complaint by 
          looking for defects other than an inoperative elevator. The slow 
          closing of the elevator door and levelling problems of the elevator 
          do not obviate the fact that the owner acted on the complaint by 
          restoring the elevator service.

          THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rent Stabilization Law and Code,  
          and the Rent and Eviction Regulations for New York City, it is,


          ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby is, granted, 
          and that the Administrator's order be, and the same hereby is, 
          revoked. Rent arrears may be due the owner from the tenants as a 
          result of this order. With respect to rent-control tenants, any 
          arrears shall be paid in monthly installments which shall not 
          exceed the amount of the monthly rent reductions revoked herein.
          As to rent stabilized tenants, any arrears may be paid in twelve 
          equal monthly installments.


          ISSUED:


                                                                           
                                                     JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                                     Deputy Commissioner

                                          






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