Laundry Room Noise Was Minor Condition

Dobbs Ferry rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in services based on a number of conditions. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced her rent. Landlord appealed and won in part. Landlord claimed that the conditions were minor and didn’t warrant a rent reduction. The one condition that was minor was noise from the laundry room next to tenant’s apartment. Tenant moved into the apartment knowing that the bedroom was next to the laundry room. Normal sounds from the washing machines or tenant conversations weren’t grounds for a rent reduction. In addition, landlord took reasonable measures to reduce the noise by installing a second layer of Sheetrock in the laundry room. Other conditions, including uneven living room floors, cracked tiles, and broken venetian blinds, weren’t minor conditions, and tenant’s rent was properly reduced.

Bowman, LLC/Hart: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket Nos. XH910009RO, XH910016RT (3/12/10) [5-pg. doc.]