New Copper Risers Not Installed As Part of Rewiring

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on rewiring. The DRA ruled against landlord. Landlord appealed and lost. To qualify as an MCI, rewiring/electrical upgrading requires the installation of new electric service to the building, new copper risers and feeders that extend from the property box in the basement to every apartment, with sufficient capacity at the apartment panel to accommodate the installation of air conditioner circuits and outlets, and two double outlets in the kitchen for heavy appliances. Landlord didn't install copper risers from the property box to every apartment. The contract stated that existing risers were merely spliced. So landlord's rewiring work was just repair and maintenance, and didn't qualify as an MCI.

Kharran: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. QL630009RO (3/12/03) [2-pg. doc.]