Landlord Didn't Maintain Apartment Carpeting

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in services. She claimed that landlord failed to maintain the carpeting in her apartment. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced her rent. DHCR inspection showed that the carpeting was dirty, worn, ripped, and not secured to the floor. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the carpeting in the apartment belonged to tenant and therefore wasn't a required service. Landlord pointed out that the carpeting wasn't registered as a service on the initial apartment registration. But tenant claimed that the apartment was carpeted when she moved in, and not every service was typically registered. Landlord owned the cooperative apartment and the co-op rules required that apartment floors be 80 percent covered with carpeting. This supported tenant's claim that landlord had provided the carpeting.

Katz: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. ZF110002RO (5/18/12) [3-pg. doc.]