1  800-518-0890

NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL - DHCR

Administrative Procedures

Both rent controlled tenants and rent stabilized tenants should
contact the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal
(DHCR) Call 1800-518-0890 for information about the housing laws, and for
administrative relief in the event of a tenant-landlord dispute.

Tenants can initiate complaints with the DHCR on the following
topics:

--   rent overcharges;

--   fair market rent appeals, contesting the first stabilized
     rent charged after a rent controlled apartment has been
     vacated;

--   review of the maximum base rent (MBR) and maximum
     collectible rent (MCR) for controlled apartments;

--   failure to renew or offer a renewal lease for a stabilized
     apartment;

--   harassment by an owner or agent;

--   reduction in rent because services are decreased (separate
     complaint forms are used, depending on whether the service
     decrease affects only an individual tenant or is building-
     wide);

--   reduction in rent because of failure to maintain heat and/or
     hot water;

When filing a complaint about a reduction in services or lack of
heat and/or hot water, be sure to check the box on the form
specifically requesting a rent reduction.  Complaints must be
filed in duplicate. Be sure to keep a copy of any complaint filed
with the DHCR, call 1 800 518-0890 for more information.

Complaint forms may be mailed or hand delivered to the borough
rent offices or to the central DHCR office in Jamaica, Queens. If
mailed, complaints should be sent by certified mail-return
receipt requested to provide proof of delivery to the DHCR. If
hand-delivered, have your copy date-stamped "received" at the
DHCR office.

Once the complaint is received by the DHCR, a docket number will
be assigned to the case. Thereafter, a rent examiner will contact
both the person making the complaint and the landlord or managing
agent of the building by mail for more information.

The forms for initiating complaints are available at the borough
rent offices of the DHCR. They are often also available from the
offices of State legislators.