Landlord Replaced Central Steam Heating with Gas Heater

Rent-controlled tenant complained of a reduction in services. He claimed that when he first moved into the apartment, landlord provided central heating. Landlord later removed tenant's radiator and installed a gas heater in tenant's apartment and connected it to the gas pipe in the kitchen, which provided gas for tenant's stove. Tenant was billed by Con Edison for the gas this heater used. The DRA dismissed tenant's complaint, and tenant appealed. The DHCR reversed and reduced tenant's rent by 50 percent month. The gas heater in tenant's apartment, which tenant must pay to operate and which may in fact be illegal, wasn't an approved equivalent substitute service. The DHCR also ordered landlord to restore central heating to tenant's apartment

[Kirk: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. BK 410144 RT (12/16/92)]. 3-page document.