Landlord Must Provide 24-Hour Doorman

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. They claimed that landlord had reduced the hours of doorman/lobby coverage service. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. The DRA also ordered landlord to restore 24-hour doorman/lobby attendant service. Landlord appealed, claiming that the building never had 24-hour doorman coverage. The DHCR ruled against landlord. Landlord previously had three elevator operators who provided security to the building lobby. When landlord sought and received permission from the DHCR to convert from manual elevators so that the elevator operators were no longer present to provide a security function, the DHCR ruled that 24-hour lobby coverage by attendants or doormen was a required substitute to ensure the same level of security that previously existed. Landlord therefore was required to provide 24-hour coverage. Because landlord had indicated in its PAR that the service was now restored, landlord could file an application to restore rents based on restoration of services.

Empire International Realty, LP/100 Riverside Drive Corp.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket Nos. VG430050RO, VH430046RO (11/9/07) [5-pg. doc.]