Only Three Intercoms Investigated

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. They claimed that the intercom system wasn't working. An inspection showed that two out of three intercoms checked weren't working. The DRA reduced tenants' rents, and landlord appealed. Landlord argued that the tenants whose intercoms were checked hadn't signed the complaint, and that the inspector didn't inspect enough of the 70 apartments to confirm whether the intercom was fixed. The DHCR agreed that not enough intercoms were checked. Unless there was either something wrong with some component of the intercom system affecting all apartments or a larger number of apartments whose intercoms still didn't work, any rent cut must be limited to those apartments reporting defective intercoms. Also, tenants who didn't sign the complaint weren't entitled to rent reductions. The rent reductions were revoked.

Samson Management: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. EG 110116-RO (8/13/93) [4-page document]