Failure to Register Precludes MCI Increase

The DRA granted landlord's application for MCI rent increases. Tenants appealed, claiming that landlord hadn't given them notice of apartment registrations for many years. Landlord argued that tenants didn't raise this issue before, so they couldn't complain about it now on appeal. The DHCR ruled for tenants. The DHCR's records showed that landlord hadn't filed annual registrations for the building between 1985 and 1989. Under the rent stabilization law and code, failure to complete annual registrations bars landlord from applying for or collecting rent increases. Tenants' rent increases were revoked.

3030 Johnson Avenue: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. GJ 610152-RT, GJ 610153-RT, GJ 610155-RT, GJ 620154-RT, GJ 610157-RT, GJ 610161-RT, GJ 610162-RT, GJ 620173-RT, GJ 610174-RT, GJ 610179-RT, GJ 620282-RT (8/25/93) [5-page document]