MCI Increase Granted for New Gas System Despite Six-Month Gas Shut-Off

Landlord applied to the DHCR for MCI rent hikes based on installation of a new gas system and related construction work, along with intercoms, pointing, and waterproofing. The DRA ruled for landlord. Tenants appealed and lost. Tenants argued that they were without gas service for six months or more while the new gas system was being installed. Some tenants said that apartment walls and floors weren't properly refinished as part of the gas system installation. The DHCR noted that the interruption of gas service while the new system was being installed wasn't grounds to deny landlord's application. It's the DHCR's established policy that claims concerning tenant inconvenience during the performance of an MCI installation or the manner in which the work was performed, that don't raise issues of defects to the MCI as installed, present no basis for denying an MCI rent increase.

Various Tenants of 119 Baxter Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. GP410050RT (1/5/21) [2-pg. doc.]