Landlord Maintained Door Lock

(Decision submitted by Hadassah S. Kwestel of the Hewlett, N.Y., law firm of Pennisi, Daniels & Norelli, LLP, attorneys for the landlord.) Tenants complained of a reduction in services based on a broken front door lock. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. Landlord appealed, arguing that it promptly repaired the door lock anytime it was broken. Tenants had filed several complaints, so there had been several DHCR inspections. An inspection in response to the first complaint found no defects in the front door lock. An inspection a month later showed the front door lock was broken. A third inspection three weeks later found the lock fixed. The inspection results were consistent with landlord's claim that it provided ongoing maintenance to the door lock. The rent reduction was revoked.

Jackson Heights Assocs. II: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. OA130084RO (8/9/00) [3-pg. doc.]