No Cost Breakdown Submitted

Tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DHCR ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $30,000, including triple damages for willful overcharge. Landlord appealed, claiming that it paid $21,000 to renovate tenant's apartment before tenant moved in. The DHCR ruled against landlord. The DRA properly disallowed any 1/40th improvement increase. Through photographs and other proof he submitted, tenant had raised a valid question before the DRA about whether the work was actually done. The DRA then asked landlord for an itemized cost breakdown. Landlord submitted no contractor affidavits or other breakdown of the work. The invoices that landlord presented were supposedly from two different construction companies. But they were identical in format and looked computer generated by the same individual. The DHCR inspection couldn't determine when some of the work was done. A hardwood floor installation claimed by landlord wasn't done.

32-05 Newtown Ave. Assocs.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. RK110080RO (3/25/04) [4-pg. doc.]