Downtown Brooklyn Renters Refunded $250,000 in Illegal Overcharges on Stabilized Apts.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — In abuse flagged by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Tenant Protection Unit (TPU), dozens of illegally overcharged tenants received over $250,000 and new leases for their rent stabilized units in a Downtown Brooklyn building on Thursday.

60 tenants who lived in stabilized units over the past four years at the Brooklyner, located at 111 Lawrence St., received approximately $250,000 in refunds following a TPU audit led by lewis Gray, who is director of investigations.

The building owners, Equity Residentail, are required abide by rent stabilization law under the 421-a incentive program.

After TPU showed its findings to Equity Residentail, "the landlord immediately took steps to comply with the applicable Rent Law provisions and provided credits to the overcharged tenants," Gov. Cuomo's office said in a statement sent to Patch.

The extra charges for stabilized tenants at the Brooklyner represents the largest sum for a single building in the city, Gov. Cuomo announced in a statement, adding that audits conducted by TPU have recovered around $2.8 million in overcharges and returned 52,000 units to rent regulation.

“This administration has zero tolerance for those who prey on renters and we created the Tenant Protection Unit to root out these bad actors, tackle tenant harassment and ensure their rights under the law are not violated," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “This recovery of rent overcharges is the latest example of the TPU’s success in cracking down on these unscrupulous practices, and we will continue working to ensure that all New Yorkers have a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.”“

"Every New Yorker deserves a safe place to raise healthy children and families, and the unlawful overcharging of rent cannot and will not be permitted to be an obstacle to that aim. I will continue to pursue all avenues to advance the welfare of tenants in our borough, particularly those being abuse or harassed by unscrupulous landlords," Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams said in a statement.

People who live in rent stabilized units and feel that they are being overcharged and/or harassed should contact the Office of Rent Administration and the Tenant Protection Unit at (718) 739-6400.

Lead image via Google Maps.