Tenant Destabilized for Not Responding to Deregulation Notice

Landlord applied in 2012 for high-rent/high-income deregulation of tenant’s rent-stabilized apartment. The DRA ruled for landlord based on tenant’s default. Tenant appealed and lost. The DRA sent tenant notice of landlord’s application and instructed tenant that an answer was due within 60 days. The DRA later sent tenant a follow-up notice after tenant failed to respond. Tenant never responded. The DRA maintained proof of mailing and proof of delivery from the U.S. Post Office of the notices to tenant. Tenant claimed that she had answered the first notice from the DRA requesting income verification information, and received no follow-up notice. But tenant submitted no proof of filing of any response.

Kowalska: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. DW410012RT (4/13/16) [5-pg. doc.]