Change from Coin-Operated to Magnetic Card Laundry Service Was Minor

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in building-wide services based on a decrease in the number of laundry room dryers. The DRA ruled against tenant, who appealed and won in part. The DHCR’s inspector had found two laundry rooms in the building. The second laundry room was being painted and the second dryer wasn't connected at that time. The inspector found this to be a temporary condition and not a reduction in services. The DHCR found this was incorrect and ordered a rent reduction based on the reduction in services. Tenant also complained that landlord changed the laundry room machines from a coin-operated system to a magnetic card system. The DHCR found that this change was de minimis--that is, minor. No rent reduction was warranted for this since the change didn’t affect the use of laundry room services. And, to the extent that the amount of the fee for using the machines changed, this should be raised in an overcharge complaint, not a service complaint.

Smith: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. EP210014RT (8/25/16) [4-pg. doc.]