Rent Reduced Based on Hallway Conditions

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in building-wide services based on a number of conditions. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced his rent. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that other tenants caused some of the conditions and that the complaining tenant lived on the first floor and therefore wasn’t affected. But landlord didn’t raise these claims before the DRA. And DHCR inspection showed that there was peeling paint on the cornice and the area under the left front window; there were areas on the walls in the public hallways that were plastered but not painted; and there were two round metal pieces on the third-floor landing and a plant on the second floor of the public hallway, which created hazardous conditions.

1247 Dean Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. YL210005RO (7/7/11) [3-pg. doc.]