Electric Work

Tenant complained of a rent overcharge. The DRA ruled against tenant. Tenant appealed, claiming that the DRA shouldn't have granted landlord an individual apartment improvement rent increase for electric work done in the apartment because the work was done by an unlicensed electrician, resulting in building violations. The DHCR ruled against tenant. Landlord proved that it rewired tenant's apartment and did related work in 1991 at a cost of $5,000. Any building violation related to electric work in the apartment didn't occur until 1999. And it didn't matter whether landlord's electrician was unlicensed for purposes of whether landlord was entitled to a rent increase for the work done.

Tompkins: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. OF410090RT (10/20/00) [3-pg. doc.]