Landlord Didn't Maintain Smoke and CO Detectors in Public Areas

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in building-wide services, claiming that carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors on the building’s first floor weren’t maintained. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced his rent. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord argued that the NYC Administrative Code required these devices only in apartments, not in the building’s public areas. But, since landlord provided these detectors in the first-floor hallway, they were a required service under rent stabilization that the owner had to maintain.

361 East 50th Street, LLC: DHCR Adm Rev. Docket No. ER420022RO (1/13/17) [2-pg. doc.]