Replacement of Copper Water Pipes

Landlord applied for MCI rent increases based on the replacement of copper water pipes that had run underneath the concrete floor of the building's basement with overhead copper water pipes and related valves. The DRA ruled against landlord because landlord didn't submit copies of permits required to do the work and because the useful life of the existing pipes hadn't run out. Landlord appealed and lost. The replaced pipes were only 15 years old. DHCR's useful life schedule for building systems defined the useful life of copper pipes as 30 years. Landlord submitted no explanation to justify a waiver of the DHCR's useful life requirements.

A.T. Mott: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. DJ730053RO (2/1/00) [3-pg. doc.]