Garage Defects

Tenants of a garden apartment complex complained of a reduction in building-wide services. Among other things, tenants complained of defects in the parking garage. Landlord claimed that the garage spaces were a separate service under a separate agreement. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents based on, among other things, missing garage roof tiles and missing leaders and gutters in the garage buildings. Landlord appealed, claiming that these were minor conditions that didn't warrant rent reductions. The DHCR ruled against landlord. The missing roof tiles, defective gutters, and missing leaders showed substantial deterioration due to landlord's chronic neglect and failure to maintain and repair these areas.

Laurelton Gardens Assocs.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. JC110172RO et al. (4/2/97) [10-page document]