Landlord Can Replace Part-Time Lobby Attendant with Video Surveillance System

Landlord asked the DHCR for permission to modify building-wide services in a rent-stabilized building by replacing a lobby attendant who worked 30 hours per week with 30 security cameras and a monitoring system. The DRA ruled for landlord.

Tenant appealed and lost. Under long-standing DHCR policy, the agency will grant a service modification application when the proposed change presented an adequate substitute service. Here, the current lobby attendant was only on duty part time, for less than half the hours of each week. The proposed video surveillance system would monitor areas full time in and around the building, which the lobby attendant couldn't observe. The surveillance would be monitored on site by the building super as well as be connected to the management company's central office. Recordings of the camera footage would exist for future viewing. The proposed video surveillance system would offer an equivalent level of security as the existing part-time lobby attendant.

Ellis: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. KM210022RT (1/6/23)[3-pg. document]