Landlord Can't Discontinue Laundry Service Provided by Contractor

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services based on various conditions, including discontinuation of laundry room service, front door key access removal, and removal of hallway emergency lighting and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. The DRA ruled for tenants on some claims and reduced their rents. Landlord and tenants both appealed. Landlord argued that smoke and carbon monoxide detectors weren’t required in the building’s first-floor common area.

The DHCR noted that, this was true but that, since landlord had provided those detectors there, they became a required service. The DRA found that discontinuance of laundry room service to be de minimis because it hadn’t been maintained for over 30 years. But tenants showed that the service was discontinued in 2014. Although the laundry room service was provided by an outside contractor, the contractor didn’t discontinue the service. It was discontinued due to landlord’s actions. So landlord must restore that service. [Download decision here.]

Various Tenants of 361 East 50th Street/361 East 50th Street, LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket Nos. DV430028RT, DW430005RO (1/13/17) [7-pg. doc.]