Landlord Decreased Number of Building Employees

Tenants complained about reduced building-wide services, including a reduction in the number of building staff. An inspection showed that there was a resident superintendent, that there was no sign posted with phone numbers for emergencies, that the building was well kept, and that janitorial services throughout were adequate. The front desk was staffed on a 24-hour basis, and the front desk operated a switchboard and received mail and packages, took messages, and handled rent collection functions. The DRA denied tenants' complaint, and tenants appealed. Tenants claimed that the positions of resident manager and building manager had been eliminated at the building. The DHCR denied tenants' PAR. Records showed that there was a building manager who no longer resided in the building and that the position of resident manager was now filled and carried out off-premises. The business hours remained the same. The superintendent could be reached after hours by a beeper. A decrease in the number of building employees does raise a presumption of a decrease in building services. But landlord showed that services hadn't been affected, so there was no actual decrease in services.

Nostrand: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. GG 530241-RT (3/3/93) [9-page document]