Cost of Disconnection and Installation of Appliances Included

Landlord applied for an increase in rent-controlled tenant's rent based on the installation of a new stove and refrigerator in tenant's apartment. The DRA ruled for landlord, increasing the maximum rent by $18 per month based on tenant's consent to the installations. Landlord appealed, claiming that the rent increase didn't include the labor costs of disconnecting the old appliances and installing the new ones. The DHCR ruled for landlord. The Rent Regulatory Reform Act of 1993 allows for inclusion of installation costs, and doesn't require the DHCR's review of the agreed-upon amount prior to the collection of the rent increase. Tenant had consented to that part of the rent increase. So the monthly rent increase was increased to $22.

Brusco: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. GK420079RO (1/14/99) [2-pg. doc.]