Installation of Electrical Meters Without Additional Rewiring Work Didn't Qualify as MCI

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on the installation of electrical meters. The DRA ruled against landlord, who appealed and lost. Rewiring qualifies as an MCI if the electrical upgrading includes installation of new electric service to the building, new copper risers and feeders that extend from the property box in the basement to every apartment of sufficient capacity at the apartment panel to accommodate installation of air conditioner circuits and outlets, as well as the actual installation of two double outlets in the kitchen to accommodate heavy-duty appliances. In this case, new copper risers and feeders from the property box to apartments weren’t installed. So the work didn’t qualify as an MCI.

110-11 Street Holdings, LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. BQ410042RO (3/2/17) [2-pg. doc.]