TRIPLE DAMAGES ORDERED

Subtenant Claims Landlord and Tenant's Wife Colluded in Rent Overcharge

October 14, 2013    

Subtenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for subtenant and ordered tenant to refund $133,539, including triple damages. Subtenant appealed, claiming that the building's owner, managing agent, and...

No Renewal Increase Granted for Month-to-Month Tenant

October 14, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $26,439, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord argued that it was entitled to a...

Landlord Overcharged Hotel-Stabilized Tenant

October 13, 2013    

Hotel-stabilized tenant complained of a rent...

Landlord Fraudulently Registered Prior Rent and Nonexistent Tenant

October 10, 2013    

Tenant moved into a rent-stabilized apartment in November 2003 at a rent of $1,800 per month. In December 2003, landlord registered the apartment with the DHCR, stating that a prior tenant paid $1,000...

Landlord Didn't Prove Costs of Individual Apartment Improvements

September 20, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $8,500, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. The DRA had disallowed any rent increase...

Landlord Didn't Prove Building Was 85 Percent Occupied by Rent-Regulated Tenants

September 17, 2013    

Rent-stabilized SRO tenant complained of a rent overcharge after landlord increased her monthly rent from $571 to $596. The DHCR ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $2,350, including triple damages....

Landlord Can't Avoid Triple Damages Through Monthly Rent Credit

August 8, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $25,458, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that it had reduced...

Landlord Can't Prove Base Date Rent Was Preferential

July 15, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $6,370, including triple damages. Landlord appealed, claiming that tenant paid a preferential rent on...

2004 Base Date Rent Frozen at Level Set by 1989 Rent Reduction Order

July 12, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund $13,877, including triple damages and interest. Tenant appealed, claiming that the DRA miscalculated the...

DHCR Looks Beyond Four-Year Base Date

May 16, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA dismissed the complaint, finding no overcharge. Tenant appealed, claiming that there was an overcharge based on landlord's fraud and that the DHCR...

Default Method Properly Used to Calculate Rent Overcharge

May 16, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled for tenant and ordered landlord to refund overcharges, including triple damages. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the DRA...

Landlord Collected Rent Increases Despite Rent Reduction Order

May 14, 2013    

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge based on the existence of a prior rent reduction order issued on May 3, 2006. The DRA ruled for tenant. Because the rent had not been restored by a later DHCR...