DHCR Decisions          CH120217RO                                    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.:                                                              CH120217RO                    ANDREW CIBULKA,                                                          RENT ADMINISTRATOR'S                                                  DOCKET NO.:                                   PETITIONER     BJ120039S                ----------------------------------x            ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW                       AND REVOKING RENT ADMINISTRATOR'S ORDER          On August 29, 1989, the above-named petitioner-owner filed a            petition for administrative review (PAR) of an order issued on          August 3, 1988, by the Rent Administrator, concerning the housing          accommodation known as Apartment 2-Right, 32-63 44th Street,          Astoria, New York, wherein the Administrator determined that the          owner was not maintaining essential services, directed restoration          of such services, and ordered a rent reduction.          The Commissioner has reviewed all of the evidence in the record and          has carefully considered those portions of the record relevant to          the issue raised by the administrative appeal.          A review of the record reveals that the tenant filed a complaint on          October 6, 1987 in which he stated that the apartment is rent          controlled, that the owner has not painted in about 9 years, that          a rent reduction was granted before because the owner refused to          paint but that the tenant would rather have the apartment painted.          In answer to the complaint, the owner stated that he is not          obligated to paint and that the rent was reduced over $6.00 per          month over ten years ago because the apartment was not painted.          A physical inspection by a Division employee on April 5, 1988          revealed that there was peeling paint and plaster throughout the          apartment.          Based on this inspection, the Administrator issued an order          reducing the maximum legal rent by 10% per month.          CH120217RO          In the petition for administrative review, the owner asserts again          that there already was an order reducing the rent for non-painting.          In answer to the petition, the tenant states that he painted the          apartment himself because of the owner's illness.          After careful consideration of the evidence of record, the Commis-          sioner is of the opinion that the petition should be granted and          the Rent Administrator's order should be revoked.          The Division's records confirm that on March 24, 1972 an order was          issued reducing the maximum rent for the subject apartment by $6.07          per month for failure to paint and that no rent restoration          application was ever filed.  Pursuant to Section 2202.16 of the          Rent and Eviction Regulations, where it is found that there has          been a decrease in essential services, the maximum rent is to be          reduced by the amount which the Administrator finds to be the          reduction in rental value bacause of the decreased services.  Once          such an order has been issued, the service for which the rent was          reduced is no longer part of the rent and no further rent reduction          may be ordered for the same condition.          Any rent arrears due as a result of this order may be paid off in          installments equal to the amount of the rent reduction that is          being revoked.          THEREFORE, in accordance with 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 Rent Administrator's order be, and the same hereby is,          revoked.          ISSUED:                                                                                                                          JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA                                                Deputy Commissioner