No MCI Rent Hike for Faulty Rewiring

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on building-wide electrical rewiring. The DRA ruled against landlord, who appealed and lost. Some tenants had claimed that they experienced power outages in the normal use of electricity after the rewiring was done. They also said that some outlets weren't working or didn't have covers. Landlord claimed that some tenants wouldn't permit access to investigate complaints and that the power was adequate but tenants were overloading electric outlets. Landlord submitted a contractor's letter with its PAR stating that repairs had now been completed in the four apartments that reported problems. But the DHCR found this proof was insufficient and filed too late. Landlord didn't submit work orders, tenant sign-offs, invoices, or an affidavit from an engineer proving that repairs were made in response to the DRA's request for additional information.

565 West 175th Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. VD430054RO (3/2/12) [3-pg. doc.]