LVT Number: #20408
Tenant filed a fair market rent appeal, challenging the first rent-stabilized rent of his apartment. The DRA ruled for tenant, reduced his rent, and ordered landlord to refund $4,500. Landlord appealed, claiming that the DRA incorrectly disallowed apartment improvement costs in calculating the legal rent. Landlord had renovated the apartment before tenant moved in and said it spent $30,000. The DHCR ruled against landlord. Landlord's invoices contained either the apartment number or a reference to tenant's floor. But landlord claimed three different cost totals for the work done.