Landlord Charged First Rent of $2,500 per Month

Tenant complained of a rent overcharge. His first rent was $2,500 per month. Landlord had renovated the apartment before tenant moved in. Tenant claimed that prior tenant paid $1,700 and that the rent increase was unjustified. The DRA ruled against tenant. Tenant appealed and lost. When landlord renovated the apartment, it added new space that gave the apartment an additional room. So landlord had created a new apartment and was entitled to collect a first rent not subject to challenge. Since the first rent was $2,000 or more, the apartment was deregulated.

Bommarito: DHCR Admin. Rev. Dckt. No. PF410022RO (5/3/02) [2-pg. doc.]