$25 Monthly Rent Cut for Removal of Storage Bins

Two tenants complained of a reduction in services, claiming that landlord had eliminated storage bins in the basement. The DRA ruled for tenants and found that the storage bins were a required service. Landlord then applied for permission to permanently remove this service. The DRA ruled for landlord on the condition that landlord reduce tenants rents by $25 per month. Landlord appealed, claiming that the rent cut was too much. The DHCR ruled against landlord. Tenants had been using storage bins since 1972, and it would cost them money to get other storage space. Landlord was now charging co-op tenants in the building $300 per year, or $25 per month, for the same type of storage space that had been included in tenants' rents. So it was reasonable to reduce tenants' rents by $25 per month, which was equal to the current value of their former storage spaces.

Wychwood Gardens Corp.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. MC710030RO and MF710054RO (12/30/99) [3-pg. doc.]