Rent Stabilization Law helps tenants collect penalties for rent overcharges
The penalty for a rent overcharge is the amount a landlord collected above the legal regulated rent, plus either interest or triple the "damages."
There are two ways to collect it:
• Offset Method: The tenant may deduct (take out) up to 20% of the penalty from the monthly rent until the penalty is completely offset.
• Judgment Method: The filing of a judgment by a court. If the owner does not obey the judgment, and there is a lien against the owner's property, the sheriff can enforce it.
Last Reviewed: June 13, 2023