Rent-Stabilized Tenant's Son Gets Apartment After Tenant Dies

Rent-stabilized tenant's son complained that landlord refused to offer him a renewal lease after tenant died. The DRA ruled for the son and directed landlord to offer him a renewal lease. Landlord appealed and lost. The son showed that he had moved into the apartment in October 1997, when his mother initially moved in. The son advised landlord of tenant's death in February 2017 and submitted copies, at landlord's request, of annual recertification papers for social services benefits, driver's license, W-2s, medical records, paystubs, and an SSI disability letter. He also submitted school papers for his 13-year old nephew, who lived in the apartment with tenant since birth and attended school in the district. Landlord denied that the son had lived in the apartment for at least two years before tenant died. But the son documented his primary residence in the apartment through documents and landlord submitted no proof rebutting the son's claim.

CDC 111th Street Realty, LLP: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. GT410028RO (6/17/19) [3-pg. doc.]