Landlord Didn't Provide Sufficient Building Door Keys to Tenants

Rent-stabilized tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services because: (a) the lock to the building entrance door was changed unnecessarily; (b) an insufficient number of keys were provided for the entrance door lock; (c) some tenants were asked to sign new leases to include additional household members as a condition for getting additional keys; and (d) some tenants were required to pay for each additional key. Some tenants also claimed that the intercom system didn't work.

The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. Agency inspection showed that the vestibule door could either be opened with a key that can't be duplicated or by the intercom system that required the use of tenants' cellphone/landline to operate. Landlord had obtained DHCR approval in 2010 to modify services by replacing the existing lock and key with an electronic card system/restricted keyed system. With that approval, the DHCR directed that each apartment could receive a minimum of up to four additional keycards at no charge. But the DHCR didn't approve changing the traditional bell/buzzer system to one that used tenants' cellphone/landlines.

Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord had received no DHCR approval to change the bell/buzzer/intercom system. And landlord presented no proof that keys were provided to all tenants.

57 Elmhurst LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. IM110042RO (4/23/21) [3-pg. doc.]