Landlord Can Convert Manual Elevator to Automatic

Landlord asked the DHCR for permission to modify required services by reducing dwelling space in rent-regulated apartments to accommodate elevator changes. The DRA ruled for landlord and granted permission to convert the service elevator from manual to automated, provided that the building super and porter continued their duties with the same number of work hours as they had prior to the upgrade and conversion. The DRA also gave landlord a waiver of the elevator's useful-life requirement so that landlord could file an MCI application. Any MCI increase was conditioned on reducing the amount of the rent increase previously granted by the approved cost of the elevator upgrade. Tenants appealed and lost. The elevator upgrade will result in increased elevator service for tenants. And the DRA's order prevents landlord from charging more than one MCI increase for the useful-life period of any elevator.

Klaber: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. ZI430038RT (3/22/13) [3-pg. doc.]