Martin v. Schlein

HOOD, Associate Judge.

Appellee landlord1 sued appellant tenant for possession of housing accommodations on the ground of nonpayment of rent. The tenant, admitting that she had not paid rent as provided in her lease, defended on the ground that the rent fixed in the lease agreement was in excess of the legal rent ceiling previously fixed by the Administrator of Rent Control.

The premises in question are part of the basement of what was formerly a three-story and basement dwelling house. While under the control of a former landlord, the rent for the basement quarters had been fixed by the…