Rent-Stabilized Tenant's Son Gets Apartment

The son of deceased rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR that landlord refused to give him a renewal lease. The son claimed succession rights and said he had lived in the apartment with tenant for 20 years until tenant died in 2020. Landlord responded and said that, if the son produced a NY State-issued driver's license and other official documents proving that he had lived in the apartment with tenant for at least two years before tenant died, he would grant succession rights. The DRA ruled against the son because he never answered the notice of landlord's response. The son appealed and won. The son claimed that in September 2021, he sent all necessary records to the DRA, including tax records, a birth certificate, DMV records, bank statements, and tenant's death certificate.  Landlord again stated that he would grant succession rights if the son produced documentation. The son then resubmitted his documentation, and the DHCR ruled that he was entitled to a renewal lease as a successor tenant. 

Thomas: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. KN210006RT (6/13/22)[2-pg. document]