Laundry Cart Service Removal Not a De Minimis Condition

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in several building-wide services. The DRA ruled for tenant, reduced his rent, and ordered landlord to restore services. The order was based on the DRA's finding that laundry room carts were no longer provided in the building's laundry room. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the laundry room and machine in the building were owned by a third-party vendor and that the laundry carts were a courtesy provided by the vendor. Landlord also claimed this service was de minimis--that is, minor. The DHCR pointed out that landlord hadn't advised the DRA that laundry room service was provided by an outside vendor. So the DHCR couldn't consider that claim for the first time on appeal. And unlike removal of a clothesline, which the RSC listed as a de minimis service, removal of laundry carts wasn't de minimis. 

Sedgecliff, LLC/Aspen: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. HS610002RO (6/16/21)[3-pg. document]