GA510476RT

                                  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. GA510476RT
                                              :  DRO DOCKET NO. ZEB510336R
               LIDIA GARCIA                      

                                PETITIONER    : 
          ------------------------------------X                             
                   ORDER AND OPINION REMANDING PROCEEDING ON APPEAL


               On January 14, 1992, the above-named petitioner-tenant timely 
          refiled a Petition for Administrative Review against an order issued 
          on November 8, 1991, by the Rent Administrator, 92-31 Union Hall 
          Street, Jamaica, New York, concerning the housing accommodations 
          known as 564 West 188th Street, New York, New York, Apartment No. 
          5J, wherein the proceeding was terminated on the basis that the 
          tenant had withdrawn her overcharge complaint.

               In this petition, the tenant stated that she never withdrew her 
          complaint.  On July 7, 1992, the tenant stated in substance that any 
          statement withdrawing her complaint was not signed by her and was 
          fraudulent.  On September 23, 1992, the tenant submitted an 
          affidavit in which she stated in substance that she had never 
          submitted the July 7, 1992 letter.

               The Commissioner is of the opinion that this proceeding must be 
          remanded to determine, in view of the aforementioned inconsistent 
          statements, whether the tenant actually withdrew her overcharge 
          complaint and if so whether she now wants such complaint to be 
          considered on the merits or if the tenant never withdrew such 
          complaint and the withdrawal letter was a forgery.  A hearing may be 
          held on this issue if warranted.  It is noted that pursuant to 
          Section 2520.13 of the Rent Stabilization Code, an agreement by a 
          tenant to waive the benefit of any provision of the Rent 
          Stabilization Law or Code is void except 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.  In this matter, even if the 
          tenant at one time withdrew her complaint, such withdrawal does not 
          meet the requirements of Section 2520.13 so that the tenant can 
          rescind her withdrawal and have the overcharge complaint decided on 
          the merits.  Therefore, if it is found that the tenant never 
          withdrew her complaint or wants to rescind her withdrawal which she 
          did on a timely basis by filing a petition for administrative 
          review, the tenant's original overcharge complaint should be 
          processed on the merits by the Rent Administrator.  











          GA510476RT




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

               ORDERED, that this petition for administrative review be, and 
          the same hereby is, remanded to the Rent Administrator for further 
          processing in accordance with this order and opinion.

          ISSUED



                                                                        
                                          JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                          Deputy Commissioner