Tenant Can't Challenge Service of Initial Registration

Tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant. Among other things, the DRA froze tenant's rent because tenant claimed landlord never sent her the initial rent registration form (RR-1) in 1984, and landlord couldn't prove that he sent the form to her. Landlord appealed and won. The Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 went into effect while the case was pending. Under that law, an apartment's rent history that dates back more than four years prior to the filing of tenant's complaint can't be examined. Since tenant filed her complaint on Jan. 5, 1989, the base date was Jan. 5, 1985. So service of the 1984 registration was no longer relevant.

Eastern Assocs.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. FI210109RO (7/31/97) [2-page document]