You may use notes during the hearing to aid in your presentation. You should be prepared to tell the hearing officer, in your own words, what happened or what you want to prove. For example, if you are asking for a rent decrease, be prepared to prove what service has been lost or what repairs need to be made. It is also important to provide evidence in addition to your own testimony of what you seek to prove, if possible. If there are important witnesses with knowledge about your case, they should appear at the hearing to testify.
Documents are also important.
Bring them to the hearing. Organize the evidence materials according to the points they prove. Examples of documents that could be important include rental agreements, changes of terms of tenancy, notices, rent receipts, ledgers, bills, checks, statements of work done, any citations from the Health Department or Building and Safety. Please provide three copies of any document you wish to submit at the hearing. One copy will go into the file, one to the opposing party and one is for your file.