Landlord Can Discontinue Temporary Security Guards

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents based on findings that landlord had eliminated uniformed security guard services and removed lobby furniture, playground equipment, and benches. Landlord appealed. The DHCR ruled for landlord in part and found that landlord didn't have to provide security guards as a required service. Tenants appealed, and the court sent the case back to the DHCR for further consideration. The DHCR also ruled against tenants on the security guard issue. Landlord had provided security guards for extended periods between 1974 (or possibly as early as 1968) and 1984 and then suspended this service. Landlord provided the security guards only intermittently and temporarily, in response to an emergency situation due to increased criminal activity. There was no charge to tenants for this service. Under the circumstances, the security guards weren't a required service.

Boulevard Tenants Corp./Algin Mgmt. Co.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. LL130004RP– LL130008RP (3/22/99) [6-pg. doc.]