Bronx Landlord Vows Appeal Of Ruling To Cough Up $33K In Refunds, Punitive Damages For Squeezing Single Mom With Illegal Rent Overcharges

In The Bronx, New York, the New York Daily News reports:

• A Bronx single mother could soon be collecting more than $33,000 from her landlord, after the state Department of Housing and Community Renewal found that she was charged excessive rent for her Norwood apartment. Iris Vega-Ortiz, 41, was charged $400 more every month for her one-bedroom apartment, according to a ruling.

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• Meanwhile, local housing advocates said it’s the largest award they've ever seen by the state for an individual tenant in the neighborhood. “In the years that I’ve been doing this work, I’ve never seen a settlement, a ruling this high,” said Sally Dunford of the nonprofit West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center. “It was just really good to see the system work the way it’s supposed to work.”

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• The state HCR department told Vega-Ortiz that the rent for her apartment was supposed to be $554.75 a month, not $975. According to the state, Vega-Ortiz is owed more than $33,000, including more than $10,000 in overpaid rent and nearly $22,000 in punitive charges for intentionally jacking up the rent. According to city records, there are 31 open violations for [the buliding], including six severe hazards.

For the story, see Bronx mom awarded $33,000 from landlord after state agency rules she was overcharged for rent (Landlord vows appeal of HCR ruling).