Rewiring Sufficient to Qualify as MCI

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on building-wide rewiring. The DRA ruled for landlord. Tenant appealed, claiming that the rewiring in her apartment wasn't adequate or safe. She said that an old outlet in one room of her apartment may be overloading the circuit breaker. Landlord responded that there were sufficient working outlets in tenant's apartment to comply with the City's Electrical Code, and that the outlet tenant complained about was illegal and not installed by landlord. Landlord also claimed that it repeatedly asked tenant for access to replace that outlet, but that tenant refused. The DHCR ruled against tenant. Landlord submitted documents with its MCI application showing that the rewiring work qualified. Landlord installed two double outlets in the kitchen to accommodate heavy-duty appliances. There was no requirement that a rewiring installation include new outlets through the apartment. the DHCR inspection showed that there were sufficient wall outlets elsewhere in tenant's apartment. There were also many plugs attached to one outlet. This may overload the circuit breaker, but was under tenant's control. Landlord also sought to replace the illegal outlet.

237 West 10th Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. UG430065RT (9/27/07) [3-pg. doc.]