Notarized Rent Ledgers Are Suspect

Tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled against tenant. Tenant appealed, pointing out that landlord submitted two different leases for the same time period, as part of the rent history. Landlord claimed that notarized rent ledgers it submitted showed the correct rents and no overcharge. The DHCR ruled for tenant and sent the case back for further review. The notarized rent ledgers didn't seem legitimate. The ledgers contained one page for each year, the tenant's name on the top of each page, and explanatory notes. They appeared to have been created for submission in the overcharge case. Notarization doesn't establish the validity of the rent ledgers. This documentation wasn't credible proof of the apartment rent history.

Haddad: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. TG210025RT (8/25/05) [4-pg. doc.]