Collect rent overcharge

I lived at a major Brooklyn developer’s large rental building for 4 years and discovered they were charging rent in excess of the legal maximum. After many years of DHCR filings and appeals, I have obtained a $26K judgement against the building for the rent overcharge. However, they are not going to willingly pay (haven’t responded to letters) and I need to figure out how to enforce the judgement. If anyone has experience/advice/referrals please let me know.

Guest User | 3 years and 1 month ago

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brooklyn492 | 3 years and 1 month ago

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What Lurker has just posted is pretty much how I remember the process working all those years ago. The Marshal took a fee back then, but it was not excessive.

Lurker | 3 years and 1 month ago

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This has info. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doi/offices/marshals-and-judgements-faqs.page

brooklyn492 | 3 years and 1 month ago

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It was just a few months to collect, but mind you the leaseholder was an individual (as opposed to a big corp or landlord) and…wait for it…he worked for the NYC Department of Buildings so he was easy to find. My understanding was that they froze/docked his bank account and collected that way. Also– and this may have made a difference– the entire time we were subletting he would only take cash from us, no checks. Except one time. And when we got that canceled check back, it had his bank account number on it which we were able to give to the Marshal. He used that information to seize the funds.

scottlevinson100 | 3 years and 1 month ago

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Out of curiosity, how many years did it take to get your judgment? Our filing has been in for more than two years. We continue to pay an illegal rent…

brooklyn492 | 3 years and 1 month ago

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I was in this exact position but as a sublettor. When the judge found in favor of us (the leaseholder was charging three of us collectively 3x the total rent) and the other party refused to pay, the City Marshal collected the debt for us. We needed the judgement order in order for the Marshal to do this. This was some years ago so not sure it’s still done this way, but I think the court clerk could advise you if that’s still the process.