Gas Risers and Meters Qualify as MCIs

The DRA granted landlord’s application for MCI rent hikes based on the installation of gas risers and meters, but disallowed costs for ineligible engineering costs and filing fees and the installation of meter bars that weren’t installed building-wide. Tenant appealed and lost. Tenant claimed that landlord’s claimed costs were fraudulent. He also claimed that no main riser was installed. But the DHCR found that landlord properly documented the MCI and its costs. DOB also signed off on the work. And tenant didn’t raise his claim that payment checks were forged before the DRA.

Kishimoto: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. BW630032RT (7/6/16) [2-pg. doc.]