TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

Rent Freeze Resulted from Prior Rent Reduction Order

January 22, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in July 2019. She claimed that landlord had increased her rent without a renewal lease. Landlord claimed that tenant had refused to sign a renewal...

Triple Damages and Interest Properly Assessed Before Deducting Overcharge Refund

January 21, 2025    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in September 2019. Landlord claimed that the overcharge was an inadvertent clerical oversight and wasn't willful. Landlord also issued a $4,087...

Triple Damages Properly Assessed for Overcharge Based on Non-Itemized IAIs

November 25, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant, finding that landlord failed to sufficiently prove claimed individual apartment improvements (IAIs) and directing landlord...

No Rent Increases Permitted Where Tenant Refused to Sign Defective Renewal Leases

October 23, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2022. The DRA ruled for tenant  and ordered landlord to refund $15,881, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed...

On-Time Rent Payment Clause Was Invalid

October 23, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in 2018, claiming that landlord's rent increases and claimed preferential rent were improper. The DRA ruled for tenant, finding that although the tenant's...

DHCR Must Award Triple Damages for Post-HSTPA Overcharge Complaint

October 23, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2022. The DRA ruled for tenant and found that landlord owed tenant overcharges totalling $1,561 with interest. The DRA also found that landlord owed...

Willful Rent Overcharge Resulted from Unlawful and Discontinued On-Time Rent Concession

September 23, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $90,000, including triple damages and interest. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord had...

Triple Damages Properly Assessed in Pre-HSTPA Overcharge Proceeding

August 26, 2024    

Tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2017. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $13,025, including triple damages and interest. Among other things, the DRA ruled that landlord and...

Landlord's Miscalculation of MCI Rent Hike Results in Triple Damages

June 24, 2024    

Rent-stabilized tenant who had lived in her apartment since 1985 complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in 2017. She claimed that landlord was seeking to increase her rent by more than the permissible 6 percent...

Rent Overcharge Resulting from 1995 Rent Reduction Order Included Triple Damages

December 19, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained to the DHCR of rent overcharge in late 2018. Specifically, tenant claimed that landlord charged improper MCI rent increases between Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2018. Landlord had bought the...

Continued Collection of Rent Increase During Rent Freeze Required Triple Damages

November 21, 2023    

Tenant complained to the DHCR in May 2019 of rent overcharge. She claimed that an outstanding rent reduction order had been issued and made effective on Sept. 1, 2025, without a proper reduction in her rent. The DRA...

Rent Overcharge with Triple Damages Found Due to Pre-Base Date Rent Reduction Orders

November 21, 2023    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of rent overcharge in February 2019. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $32,726, including interest and triple damages. The overcharge was based on two...