Landlord Modified Intercom System Without Seeking DHCR Approval

Sixty-six tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. Landlord appealed and lost. The DRA found that landlord didn't file an application for a modification of services before installing a new touch-screen intercom system that was connected to each tenant's telephone landline or personal cellular phone, and that the current intercom/bell/buzzer didn't work for all tenants. The name and phone number of one tenant wasn't in the system, and the tenant of another apartment didn't want his phone number in the system. Landlord pointed out that 11 tenants listed in the DRA's order were co-op shareholders and improperly listed in the DRA's order. Landlord also argued that there was no modification of services. Instead, the only change resulting from the new intercom system was the ability of tenants to use a cell phone to operate the intercom system, in addition to their landlines. The DHCR found that there was insufficient proof that the tenants landlord claimed were co-op shareholders. Tenants had complained that the bell/buzzer system was broken. Inspection also showed that a bell/buzzer system also was at some point changed to the system that used tenant landlines.

E&M Bronx Associates, LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. CV610003RO (4/7/17) [4-pg. doc.]