Landlord Installed Lock on Main Exterior Door

Tenants complained of a reduction in services because the lock on the building entry door wasn't working. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. Landlord later applied for rent restoration based on restoration of services. The DRA ruled for landlord. Tenants appealed, claiming that the reason for the rent reduction was a defective vestibule door lock, not a missing outer door lock. They said there still was no working lock on the vestibule door. The DHCR ruled against tenants. The DHCR's policy is that landlord must secure either the outer door or the vestibule door but isn't required to secure both. The DRA had reduced tenants' rent because both the outer door and vestibule door locks were defective. Since landlord installed a lock on the main exterior door, no additional lock was required on the vestibule door.

Pope: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. RD130046RT & RD130066RT (1/9/04) [3-pg. doc.]